I thought I was growing up in a racially tolerant Britain. I now realise I was wrong | Rohan Sathyamoorthy
GuardianSEP 5
UK: England & Wales Witness Rise in Religious Hate Crimes
Above: Flowers left at the police cordon outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, north Manchester, on Oct. 4, 2025, Image copyright: PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
Muslims face the sharpest rise in hate crimes of any religious group, with nearly half of all religious hate targeting them. Far-right riots brought unapologetic racism and Islamophobia to British streets, with thugs checking drivers' skin color and vandalizing homes. This represents a dangerous return to the dark ages of organized racism that demands collective resistance from all communities.
Right narrative
Britain faces an unprecedented wave of Islamist extremism targeting Jews and other non-Muslims. The government targets ideologically-opposing hate speech while protecting those who celebrate Hamas terrorists. Starmer promises to protect Jewish communities having allowed a culture of hatred to foster on his watch. Labour cannot be trusted with law and order.