Starmer hosts interfaith breakfast in Downing Street

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hosted leaders from a range of faiths for a breakfast round-table in Downing Street on Thursday.

The event was attended by Ari Jesner from the Office of the Chief Rabbi and Progressive Judaism’s Co-Rabbi in Chief Charley Baginsky.

In a post on X/Twitter, The Chief Executive Rabbis’ social media account, with photos of Rabbi Baginsky outside the iconic black door of No10 Downing Street, said: “Proud to be able to represent Progressive Judaism and the Jewish community at interfaith breakfast this morning.”

It continued to say: “Pleased that the government realise the centrality of faiths when thinking about policy in the UK and the vital role we have to play in all areas of society. Looking forward to continuing conversations.”

Starmer emphasised to those present that what he had previously called a “government of service” meant a government in the service of all communities: “That concept of service is a value which drives me in terms of what we're trying to achieve in government”, he said, adding: “Are we serving all of our communities? Are we serving the communities and the congregations that you represent?”

The Prime Minister then highlighted the important role faith plated during the Covid-19 pandemic: “It showed that faith anchors people”, Starmer said.

He continued: “We suddenly entered this complete unknown – a pandemic that none of us had really even imagined. Life suddenly changed. And in that moment, so many people across the country reached for their faith.”

Starmer said he was keen to continue the conversation with faith leaders in the coming months and years.

As part of interfaith week, held last week, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who also serves as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, hosted Jewish-Muslim women’s group Nisa-Nashim in her office in Westminster on Tuesday.

Rayner said she would “make sure that their voices and experiences are at the heart of our work as a government to promote social cohesion and target religiously motivated hatred in all its forms.”