Liberal Judaism Chair Karen Newman and Officer Owen Power, along with Movement for Reform Judaism Vice President Andrew Gilbert, were among the Progressive Jews who took part in the Board of Deputies’ first ever direct Parliamentary Advocacy Day.

Led by the President of the Board, Phil Rosenberg, two dozen Deputies, from a wide range of synagogues and organisations across different regions of the country, met their MPs in Parliament to lobby them directly around key issues of significance to British Jews.

These included supporting efforts to effectively police extreme protestors, backing the creation of a British Jewish Culture Month, acting on the upcoming findings of the Independent Commission on Antisemitism, securing the proscription of terrorist groups, and maintaining visibility and awareness of the plight of the hostages taken by Hamas.

Owen said: “This was an incredibly special day and the time I spent, with fellow Deputy Judith Prinsley, engaging with Catherine West MP and her team was positive and productive.

“It was great to see so much of the Palace of Westminster, including watching a debate from the Strangers Gallery and taking tea with Peter Prinsley MP in the Tea Room!”

Karen added: “This was a great initiative by the Board; encouraging Deputies to write to their MPs asking for a meeting to raise issues of common concern, including the need to maintain visibility and awareness of the plight of the hostages within and beyond Parliament, to support the establishment of a British Jewish Culture Month in 2026 to reduce the number of people whose knowledge of Jews is solely related to the Holocaust, and to support the work of the Lord Mann and Penny Mordaunt-led Commission on Antisemitism, which is looking at interfaith work, tackling extremism, and reviewing hate crime legislation.”