Opening hearts for refugees
Stories about my Jewish great grandparents.
Abraham, Frederica, Annie and Reuben’s parents were born in Poland and Prussia. The Jewish community was targeted with violent attacks, then called pogroms, and now called ethnic cleansing. The kind of violence we are now seeing raising its ugly head in Britain.
The families decided to leave their homes for a better and safer life. Like 150,000 other Jewish refugees who came to Britian from Europe fleeing poverty and rising fascism, around 125 years ago. The most able son was sent first. Made his way on a boat across the channel, and found a home in Manchester. The rest of the family came later on.
The first immigration Act, the Aliens Act 1905 was brought in by racist MPs to stop the boats. ‘Britain doesn’t have room they said’ - while many Brits were emigrating abroad. ‘These immigrants are dangerous, sexual predators, abusive to children, not British enough’, said the MPs - while sending children to work up chimneys, and denying women the right to vote. The lies, misinformation and victim-blaming from the super-rich hasn’t changed much, though the targets to divide us have changed from mostly Jewish immigrants to mainly Muslim people.
My great grandparents were not restricted in terms of finding work. They found work, and paid rent on the best available homes they could afford – which are now demolished as slums. They married and raised their families.
And their sons, like millions of other granddads, my grandads - Bernard and Geoff - joined the British Army and fought fascism in the second world war. “Ich bin Juden” Bernard said, while guarding Nazi prisoners of war in Algeria. My grandad Geoff was killed in Germany and didn’t come home. He fought for the British values of solidarity, anti-racism and welfare for all.
What happened to Bernard’s cousins who were denied safe and legal routes? They were forced to move into ghettos, forced into detention centres. Centres that Labour seem to be now proposing and are worrying for people like me. Many were killed in the Holocaust in Europe, alongside 6 million other beautiful Jewish people because of their religious and racial identities.
This is key reason for creating the United Nations. For the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The 1951 Refugee Convention, which the UK has signed, giving everybody the right to seek asylum from persecution, regardless of how they enter a country. Their presence is protected by law while their claim is assessed. Therefore they can not be considered illegal.
We say Never Again For Anyone.
So I’d like to say to Bandar, Yuliia and all refugees on the Wirral, however you got here, you are very welcome here. I’m sorry you couldn’t stay in your home. We are lucky to have you.
As a Jewish person descended from refugees, I’d like to thank every single person on the Wirral, who has made room, opened up the doors of your homes, churches, mosques, sports clubs, your schools and your hearts to people seeking sanctuary here. You help to save lives, heal hearts and create a better future for all of us.
17.10.2025