Rt. Hon. Kemi Badenoch MP and Rt. Hon. Robert Jenrick MP have written exclusive letters to CFI supporters underlining their support for Israel and the UK’s Jewish community.
The letters follow CFI hustings earlier this month, when the two candidates outlined their visions for the future of the Conservative Party in separate Q&A sessions chaired by CFI Honorary President Lord Polak CBE. As many as 300 Conservative activists joined the event in person and online. Watch the video recordings here.
In their letters, both candidates have stated that as leader of the Conservative Party they would stand with Israel and oppose antisemitism.
Rt. Hon. Robert Jenrick MP said: “Under my leadership, our party will continue to stand with Israel and not give an inch to Hamas or their apologists here in the UK”.
Rt. Hon. Kemi Badenoch MP said: “If I am leader of the Conservative Party, we will continue to strengthen our ties with Israel and root out the tragic resurgence of antisemitism in the UK. We will be true to our values”.
Both candidates expressed concern over the Labour Government’s policies on Israel, with Ms Badenoch stating that “we stand on the edge” of Labour “reversing” the UK’s strong relationship with Israel built by the Conservative Government, as well as “turning the UK against our free, democratic ally: making ourselves, Israel, and Jewish people around the world less safe”.
Mr Jenrick said that the Labour Government has already “demonstrated that they prioritise appeasing sectarian extremists over standing with our allies like Israel”. “Israel has a right to defend itself and we must reject Labour’s suspension of arms export licences to Israel for use in Gaza. We must staunchly oppose UK involvement with UNRWA when time and again they are linked to Hamas”, he added.
They both condemned increasing levels of antisemitism after Hamas’ 7th October attacks on Israel, with Ms Badenoch stating: “We have seen a deeply worrying rise in antisemitism in the UK since the 7th of October last year. We have seen people in this country use their views on Israel as an excuse to display antisemitism. We have seen this at protests on our streets and we see this in our universities. Those who glorify terrorism and celebrate the massacre of Jews have no place on our streets”.
Mr Jenrick said: “Over the past year we’ve witnessed, weekend after weekend, the grotesque spectacle of people taking to the streets of our cities to valorise Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. We’ve seen antisemitism skyrocket to record levels”. He added: “Jewish people in the United Kingdom have faced abuse and intimidation because other Jews, thousands of miles away, have been murdered. This fact must shame us. I will never be cowed from calling out the antisemitic alliance between the far-left and Islamists in this country”.
Both candidates expressed support for the construction of the Holocaust Memorial beside Parliament, as well as emphasising their support for CFI’s work.
In her letter, Ms Badenoch MP said: “I am proud to be a Conservative Friend of Israel and I am proud to have helped the Conservative Government build the closest ties to Israel that the UK has ever had”. She added: “Our relationship is built on decades of cooperation and steeped in historical ties”, underlining that “our support for Israel isn’t dependent on the atrocities of its enemies but on the values it shares with the UK”. Ms Badenoch detailed her actions to increase ties with Israel, including working towards a free trade deal and rejecting calls for an arms embargo.
Mr Jenrick said: “I will always stand with you as friends and colleagues and look forward to continuing to work with and support CFI”. He pointed to his actions in support of Israel: “In Government, I tabled anti Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) legislation to stop local councils boycotting Israel. I successfully campaigned to proscribe Hamas and Hezbollah and I revoked visas for supporters of Hamas… It was a record that saw me sanctioned by the Iranian regime — something I regard as an honour”. He added that he will continue to campaign for proscription of the IRGC.
“Our defence of Israel has never mattered more”, said Ms Badenoch, adding that “as Israel fights terrorism on multiple fronts, facing Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, the UK must stand strong with its ally”. Mr Jenrick also made clear that “at a rally for Israel in the immediate aftermath I said we must stand with our ally in its fight for freedom. Today, that is as important ever”.
Read the full letters below.
Letter-to-Conservative-Friends-of-Israel-from-Kemi-BadenochRJ-to-CFI-Letter
