UK: Actress Maureen Lipman may leave Britain over attacks on Jews

Maureen Lipman, the actress, has said she is considering leaving Britain because of a “worrying” rise in attacks on Jews. The 71-year-old star said she could desert the UK to live abroad because of a rising tide of anti-Semitism.

Speaking to the LBC radio station, she said: "When the economy dries up, then they turn on the usual scapegoat. The usual suspect. The Jew.

"There is one school of thought that says it's because of Israeli policies in the West Bank, it isn't. There's been anti-Semitism for the past 4,000 years.

"When the going gets tough, the Jews get packing... it's crossed my mind that it's time to have a look around for another place to live. I've thought about going to New York, I've thought about going to Israel." 

Mrs Lipman said the Jewish community in Britain "give, give and give" and described the recent rise in anti-Semitic attacks as "very very depressing".

In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo shootings in Paris, police patrols in Jewish areas have been stepped up amid fears of repeat anti-Semitic violence. A survey conducted after the attacks found more than one in ten Jews, and 17 per cent of young Jews, had considered leaving Britain due to prejudice against Jews. Another poll suggested a significant minority of British people harbour anti-Semitic views, including that Jews have too much power in the media, are greedy and dishonest in business. [...]

Last year Mrs Lipman announced she was ending five decades of support for the Labour Party, as she furiously denounced Ed Miliband’s stance on Israel. Mrs Lipman said she would vote for “almost any other party” until Labour is “once more led by mensches” – the Yiddish word for a person of integrity. The actress added Mr Miliband’s support for a motion recognising the state of Palestine “sucks” at a time of rising anti-Semitism in Europe.

More: Daily Telegraph