The Whitehall Conference convened to address the status of Jews in England and their potential return after centuries of expulsion. The Edict of Expulsion, decreed in 1290 by King Edward I, had long been a barrier to Jewish presence in England. Oliver Cromwell, then Lord Protector, sought to examine the legalities surrounding the ban, opening a dialogue among parliamentarians and religious leaders regarding the benefits of allowing Jews to return to the country. At this conference, it was concluded that there was no existing law that prohibited Jews from re-entering England. This resolution represented a significant legal shift and reflected Cromwell's interests in economic and commercial gains that could arise from a Jewish presence in England.

The willingness to reconsider long-held prejudices towards Jews illustrated a broader context of change within 17th-century English society, which was influenced not only by economic expediency but also by emerging Enlightenment ideas about tolerance and human rights. The conference offered a formal platform for debate and acknowledgment of a community that had been politically and socially marginalized for centuries. The outcome encouraged conversations that would ultimately lead to a burgeoning movement for religious tolerance within England.

This resolution did not immediately lead to mass Jewish immigration, as various social and political factors remained contentious. However, it set the foundation for future discussions and eventual acceptance, allowing for the re-establishment of a Jewish community in England, which had significant implications for the cultural and religious landscape of the nation in the following decades.