SIR KEIR STARMER urged action to deal with the “crisis” of antisemitism in Britain today as he called a Downing Street summit to tackle the issue.

But his message of unity was undermined by Cabinet attack dog Steve Reed, the Communities Secretary, using the crisis to launch a partisan attack on the Green Party ahead of the local elections.

The Prime Minister demanded a tougher approach to confront antisemitism in the wake of recent attacks on Jews and the Jewish community, focusing on further education and the arts in particular.

“Last week’s terrorist attack in Golders Green was utterly appalling,” Sir Keir told the meeting. “But it was not an isolated incident. It is part of a pattern of rising antisemitism that has left our Jewish communities feeling frightened, angry and asking whether this country, their home, is safe for them.

“These disgusting attacks are being made against British Jews. But this crisis is a crisis for all of us. It is a test of our values.”

He said: “We already expect universities to set out clear disciplinary consequences for antisemitism and to enforce them. And so we will hold them to account on that.

“We’re calling on universities to demonstrate action. We will now expect them to publish the scale of the problem on their campuses, as well as the specific steps they have taken to clamp down on it.”

Sir Keir also said that the Arts Council should claw back grants made to support allegedly antisemitic content, while £7 million is to be set aside for antisemitism training in schools and an additional £1m to help local authorities tackle antisemitism.

Mr Reed renewed his point-scoring against the Green Party. “We need the Green Party to do what the Labour Party did and kick out members of their party who are openly antisemitic.

“In my borough two Green Party candidates have been arrested for allegations of stirring up racial hatred. Instead of condemning them, the Green Party has put out a letter saying that the Labour Party is spreading cynical misinformation,” he said.

But Green Party leader Zack Polanski, himself Jewish, hit back.

He said: “When you see the relentless attacks from other parties on the Greens across the media remember this: They hate our plan to end Rip-Off Britain.

“They don’t want a wealth tax. They don’t want public ownership and lower bills. They’re trying everything in their power to stop us.

“It’s not going to work. They have deep pockets. We have people power and a plan to change our country.”