Politicians are failing to balance the need to protect freedom of expression with the need to regulate the hate speech that is rampant on social media

The attack on the Heaton Park synagogue in north Manchester last week during Yom Kippur brought home several unpleasant truths – and not just the obvious ones. One – long felt by the Jewish community but probably not realised by many outside it – is that since the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October and Israel’s subsequent response there has been a sharp rise in antisemitism. Synagogues have been daubed, as have businesses owned by Jewish people, and cemeteries have been desecrated. Abuse has been hurled not only across social media but also in the street. Sometimes it has led to physical violence too.

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