The former Prime Minister and Daily Express columnist Vanessa Feltz were among a wealth of famous faces who turned out to show their support for the Jewish people.

Mr Johnson said: “It’s very sad in a way that this march has to take place at all. But I’m afraid it does because what we are all doing here is showing solidarity with Jewish people.

“And that’s necessary because since October 7, I’m afraid there’s been a very peculiar response in some parts of the world, including I’m sad to say in London.”

“What we’ve seen I’m afraid is the reemergence of antisemitism and a failure to focus on the appalling terrorist acts of Hamas on October 7. And I just think we have to remember that.”

He added that the attacks by Hamas only confirmed the absolute necessity for Israel to exist.

“What we’re trying to address here, what I’m trying to address here is a separate thing in a way, which is the re-emergence of antisemitism.”

“And, you know, it’s kind of like an old spore of a virus that lurks beneath the floorboards of Western civilisation, our collective memory, and it comes out from time to time.”

“It’s perennial, it won’t go away, and it flares up again. We’re seeing a flare up, and we need to call it out.”

Others who attended included the actor Eddie Marsan, actress Tracy-Ann Oberman, Countdown presenter Rachel Riley and television judge Robert Rinder. The actresses Felicity Kendal and Maureen Lipman also joined the march.

Ms Lipman said she thought the turnout was “amazing”, adding that it was “great to come and show support”.

She said: “We dont want to be here for why we are here, but we have to be here. As the Jewish community, we’re in shock. There has been a terrible reckoning. It has frightened all of us.”

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick and security minister Tom Tugendhat also joined the peaceful march, as did Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis.

Mr Johnson received a warm welcome from fellow marchers and many took to social media to thank him for his participation. One wrote: “Good on you Boris.”

The event, billed by organisers the Campaign Against Antisemitism as the largest British gathering against antisemitism since the Battle of Cable Street in 1936, got under way at London’s Royal Courts of Justice in the afternoon.

Far right groups, like the English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson, were warned by organisers they would not be welcome and were asked to stay away.

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But Robinson nevertheless still attended, joined by his followers at the Royal Courts, many holding placards with such messages as “Rape is not resistance” and “Hamas made me Jewish”.

However, he was quickly arrested by the Metropolitan Police after refusing to leave the area.

“Officers working as part of the police and a heist operation have arrested a 40-year-old man in the Strand, “a Met spokesman said.

Police said Robinson had been asked repeatedly to leave the area for fear of causing unrest, but was detained by officers when he refused to do so.

The Far Right frontman was pictured, apparently having been pepper-sprayed, as he was marched away by officers.

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“He was spoken to and warned on more than one occasion that his continued presence in the area was likely to cause harassment, alarm and distress to others,” the Met said.

“He was directed to leave the area but refused to do so. We’er aware that the man had suggested he was in the area as a journalist. This was not a relevant factor in his arrest.”

Both ministers and the Metropolitan Police have recently stressed the need for the UK’s Jewish community to feel safe on the streets, amid concern about rising tensions sparked by the conflict in Gaza.

And organisers said around 60,000 people took to the streets to join the rally in the capital against anti-semitism.

It marched from the Royal Courts of Justice to Parliament Square where speakers made speeches.

Sir Ephraim told the crowd: “Since October 7 we have witnessed here in the UK an alarming rise of antisemitism, but we will not be intimidated.

“We call for a strengthening of community cohesion and we will forever be proud to champion the finest of British values.

“So with regard to the poisonous spread of antisemitism, what should the response of the British people be?”

“Number one, call it out when you see it. Number two, call it by what it really is – Jew hatred.

“Number three, be vigilant and report every incident. Number four, we must arrest every single perpetrator and bring every single one of them to justice.”

Gideon Falter, chief executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, condemned “appalling” signs seen at pro-Palestinian marches.

Addressing yesterday’s march at Parliament Square, he said: “Since October 7, antisemitic crime has surged in this country by over 1,000per cent.

“Demonstrations marched through our cities, marched through our capital where people glorify terrorism, where people incite racism against Jews.”

There were 554 reports of antisemitic offences in London between 1 October and 1 November in London, compared with 44 in the same period last year.

Islamophobic hate crime is also on the rise, with 220 offences in the same period, compared to 78 last year.

But there was also an ongoing row as Jewish staff at the BBC said they were barred from attending by their employer.

Employees working in news and current affairs, factual journalism and senior leaders who sought permission from the broadcaster to attend, were told they needed to adhere to the corporation’s existing guidance on attending marches.

The diktat stated that corporation employees in those particular divisions should not participate in any public demonstrations or gatherings about controversial issues.

Individuals who have asked to take part in previous pro-Palestinian marches are also understood to have received similar instructions.

In response to suggestions that the rules should not apply to a protest against antisemitism, staff have been informed that the event cannot be categorised as “commemorative or celebratory” and has been deemed “a controversial march or demonstration”.

But some Jewish staff questioned whether a march against antisemitism should be considered contentious.

One said: “Racism is racism and something we should all abhor – but not when it comes to anti-Jewish racism it seems.”

“If the BBC believes that racism is racism and not acceptable in any shape or form then going on a rally against antisemitism shouldn’t be an issue.”

But a BBC spokesman said: “The BBC is clear that antisemitism is abhorrent. We have established guidance around marches, which explains that different considerations apply depending on what you do for the BBC.”

“Corporately, we have not issued any staff communication on any specific march this weekend, but this does not mean discussions which consider the guidance have not taken place between colleagues.”

Yesterday’s march followed another a day earlier when tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators paraded through central London calling for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

That was the first London march since Armistice Day, when more than 100 counter-protesters were arrested.

Police said 18 people had been arrested at the pro-Palestinian march, though the “overwhelming majority” protested lawfully.

Rachel Riley called on people to “get serious” about tackling antisemitism.

Speaking in Parliament Square she said: “We’ve learned from history the sharp price to be paid when good people stay silent and I’m grateful to each and every one of you here today for refusing to be bystanders.”

“We’re going to have to get serious about fighting this now if we want to turn things around.”

“We’re going to start having to have tough conversations. We’re going to have to stand up to the mob and we’re going to need strong stomachs.”

“But together I believe we can and we will.”

Former EastEnders actress Tracy-Ann Oberman told marchers: “We’re seeing a frightening and swift rise in antisemitism, Jewish attacks on our children not being able to go to school wearing their blazers with a Jewish insignia or skullcaps, our children and ourselves advised to take off any sign of being Jewish.”

“I have so many friends and neighbours and people who contact me on social media saying they will take their mezuzahs off their doors, that they feel frightened, they feel isolated and alone.”

“But we are not alone. We are a successful and flourishing multi-ethnic and multi-faith capital city of a multi-ethnic and multi-faith country.”

“A tolerant democracy where all racism, including racism against Jews, is not tolerated.”

“We have to call out antisemitism for what it is, it is an incitement to hatred, it is an incitement to divide.”

Actor Eddie Marsan called for moderate people to “face down extremism and bigotry”.

He told the antisemitism march in London: “Fundamentalists always scream loud to drown out the voice of reasonable people, moderate people.

“Well in my experience people aren’t moderate because they’re turning a blind eye to injustice, people are moderate because they can see both sides of the debate, both sides of an argument, and they can sense the greater truth.”

“But I think now it’s time for moderate people in this country to stand up and face down extremism and bigotry and antisemitism and Islamophobia and all forms of racism.”

“So I’m here today to defend my culture, my culture is diversity and I’m proud of my culture.”

“And I’m also here to stand in solidarity with my Jewish friends, the people I grew up with, the people I went to school with, the people I work with, and I tell you all you are not alone.”

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