Home Office approached antisemitism activist for adviser role

The Home Office considered appointing antisemitism campaigner Gideon Falter as an adviser to its counter extremism unit but was warned against the appointment by the government's antisemitism tsar.

- Pippa Crerar , Jessica Elgot

The Guardian understands that there were strong objections to Falter being offered the part-time civil service role advising the Commission for Countering Extremism in 2022 and that Lord John Mann told the thenhome secretary Suella Braverman he would quit if Falter was offered the post.

Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), said he was approached for the role by the unit's commissioner but never applied or was formally offered it and that he believes no similar role was ever created.

Falter was in the spotlight over the weekend after being told by a police officer that he risked antagonising pro-Palestinian protesters because of his "openly Jewish" appearance.

Braverman, now a backbencher, had called for the Metropolitan police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to resign over the incident.

A longer version of the exchange showed the officer explaining he was concerned Falter was trying provoke a confrontation with marchers. Rowley has apologised for the language used, but defended the officer's overall conduct.

In a letter seen by the Guardian, Mann warned the Home Office that he feared that giving Falter the role would hinder cooperation with the main body responsible for monitoring antisemitism - the Community Security Trust. The CCE is an armslength body which says it makes independent appointments.