Swinney says new working group will tackle 'evil' of antisemitism
Group will focus on issues including education and security
A new joint working group will identify “practical steps” to tackle the “evil” of antisemitism and enhance the life of Scotland’s Jewish community, First Minister John Swinney has vowed.
The high-level group, a joint initiative between the Scottish government and the Jewish Council of Scotland (JCoS), will operate on an ongoing basis and focus on issues such as antisemitism, education, and security.
The new group, which will be co-chaired by Timothy Lovat, the chair of JCoS, and Scottish government official, will also include representatives from Jewish communities and public bodies.
Its formation comes amidst a surge in reported antisemitic incidents in Scotland last year, which mirror a UK-wide increase over the same period.
The JCoS, the leading representative body of Scotland's Jewish community, said the group would take a “proactive and response” approach, and would help improve the security of Jewish communities throughout the country.
Announcing the initiative, Mr Swinney said: “Scotland is stronger for its diversity and we are firmly committed to ensuring people from all faith and belief communities feel safe, supported and respected.
“I welcome the close partnership between the Scottish government and the Jewish Council of Scotland in establishing this new working group, which will bring together expertise from across public bodies and the Jewish community to identify practical steps to tackle the evil of antisemitism and to strengthen and enhance Jewish life nationally.”
Mr Lovat said: “This new initiative demonstrates our commitment to ensuring all Jews in Scotland are protected and recognised. We look forward to engaging across government, with public officials and community leaders to uphold the highest possible standards and accountability and for Jewish life to continue without fear of intimidation or any further threat.
“Our focus and clear intention is to ensure the future of Scottish Jewry is secure and we will take every necessary step required to achieve this.”
According to data published last month by the Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitism across the UK, there were 101 reported anti-Jewish hate incidents in Scotland throughout 2025, up from 74 the previous year, and 68 reported incidents in 2023.
UK-wide, the organisation said there were 3,700 such incidents in 2025, up four per cent year on year and the second highest annual total ever recorded. The 2025 report was also the first time more than 200 cases of anti-Jewish hate were recorded in every calendar month.
It comes as the only known UK-based British-Israeli dual national who survived the 7 October 2023 attacks in Israel said she believes antisemitism is “running riot,” and that she felt “abandoned.”
Anat Ron-Kendall, whose father Shlomo Ron was killed in the attacks, said she now felt unsafe in the UK, where she claimed antisemitism has become normalised.
“To me, I still live under threat,” she explained. “I cannot feel safe in a country that normalises this kind of behaviour.”
Her testimony has been given as part of an updated report on the 7 October attacks commissioned by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Israel and led by historian and Conservative peer Lord Andrew Roberts.
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