Residents may be aware that, alongside Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge, I co-Chair the APPG on British Jews in Parliament. As such, it was great to make a timely visit to the Pinner Synagogue for the last evening of the 8 day festival of Chanukah.
Following the atrocities of 7 October, the ongoing conflict and its impact on life here in the UK, it felt a very fitting time to promote compassion and cooperation, and the importance of different communities reaching out to help one another. We must stamp out the hostility which threatens our stability if we are not to allow evil to triumph.
I am grateful to both the Pinner Synagogue and B'nai B'rith UK for hosting this excellent event this evening, and I hope that all those celebrating had a wonderful Chanukah.
Photograph: Dr Jeremy Havardi, Dame Margaret Hodge MP and Alan Miller, National President of B'nai B'rith UK
