Membership of All Party Parliamentary Group is on the rise

Membership of the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Jews has increased by a third in the past year, it was reported this week.

Board of Deputies Chief Executive Gillian Merron, speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the group, added that in addition to the increase in membership, the APPG had ramped up its parliamentary activity.

As well as running a number of successful events, including the annual Chanukah Reception, a well-attended briefing on the Charedi community and an event to mark Mitzvah Day, there have been a number of school visits to Parliament.

Over the past 12 months, members of the APPG, of which the Board of Deputies acts as secretariat, have been briefed on subjects including Iran, organ donation, sex and relationships education and the impact of universal credit on Jewish families.

In the coming year, the APPG will focus on supporting our Jewish schools and look at the impact of Brexit on Jewish issues. It will also continue to celebrate the contribution of the Jewish community to life in the UK.

Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer stood down as APPG Vice Chair following his appointment as Whip. He has been replaced by Westminster North MP Karen Buck.

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Photo: (Left to right) Lord Palmer, Theresa Villiers, Bob Blackman, Oliver Dowden, Gillian Merron, Baroness Deech, Paul Masterton, Lord Pannick, Catherine West