King Charles vows ‘urgent action’ on British antisemitism

In a speech to Parliament, King Charles laid out the Starmer government’s agenda, as the prime minister faces growing calls to resign.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

Britain’s government pledged Wednesday to tackle antisemitism, strengthen national security laws and continue support for Ukraine, as King Charles III delivered the 2026 King’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament.

The speech, written by the government and read by the monarch, set out Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s legislative agenda for the new parliamentary session.

It framed the program around what the government called an “increasingly dangerous and volatile world,” citing the Middle East conflict as a recent example.

“My Government will respond to this world with strength and aim to create a country that is fair for all,” the king said. “My Ministers will take decisions that protect the energy, defense and economic security of the United Kingdom for the long term.”

The speech said the government would defend “the British values of decency, tolerance and respect for difference under our common flag,” and “take urgent action to tackle antisemitism and ensure all communities feel safe.”

The pledge comes amid a spate of a violent antisemitic attacks in Britain, along with a number of incidents of vandalism and arson targeting Jewish institutions.

On April 29, a Somali-born British national stabbed two Orthodox Jewish men in London’s heavily Jewish Golders Green neighborhood.

On foreign policy, the government said it would act according to “a calm assessment of the national interest” while maintaining support for Kyiv. “It will continue its unflinching support for the brave people of Ukraine, who fight on the frontline of freedom,” the king said.

The speech also signaled a push to improve Britain’s relations with Europe, describing closer ties with European partners as “a vital step in strengthening European security.”

On the Middle East, it said the government would “continue to promote long-term peace in the Middle East and the two-state solution in Israel and Palestine.”

The government also announced a package of security legislation, referencing plans to confront Iranian-backed proxy groups.

A Tackling State Threats Bill will target “the growing threat from foreign state entities and their proxies,” while a National Security Bill will include measures responding to the Southport attack and aimed at protecting the public from extreme violence, the king said.

“My Ministers will also introduce legislation to improve the country’s defenses against cybersecurity threats,” the king said, referring to a Cyber Security and Resilience Bill.

The speech said the government would maintain the UK’s “unbreakable commitment to NATO” and continue increasing defense spending. It also linked national security to energy independence, saying clean British energy would help ensure that “enemies of the United Kingdom cannot attack the economic security of the British people.”

The king’s address was issued at a time of growing pressure within the ruling Labour Party for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign, with open calls not only from Labour MPs but also ministers demanding the premier step down.

Junior health minister Dr. Zubir Ahmed resigned and blamed Starmer for Labour’s poor local election results, while more than 90 Labour MPs had urged him to resign and major Labour-linked unions were preparing to say they did not expect him to lead the party into the next election.

Starmer also held a brief Downing Street meeting with Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who has been seen as a possible leadership contender, although Streeting publicly backed the prime minister.