Johnson’s warning to voters
Prime minister urges public not to hand ‘anti-Semite’ Corbyn the keys to the country
BRITISH Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged voters not to inflict a Friday the 13th “nightmare” on Britain by handing Jeremy Corbyn the keys to No 10 Downing Street.
Johnson’s plea comes as the Labour leader has been named the worst anti-Semite on the planet by the world’s leading Nazi-hunting organisation. The Simon Wiesenthal Centre warned that Corbyn would turn Britain into a “pariah state” if he won Thursday’s election.
In an astonishing escalation of the row which has ripped Labour apart, the human rights body said: “No one has done more to mainstream anti-Semitism in the political and social life of a democracy than the Corbyn-led Labour Party.
“Members and staff who have dared to speak out against the hate were purged, but not those who declared ‘Heil Hitler’ and ‘F**k the Jews’.”
Rabbi Marvin Hier, head of the centre, said: “Britain was at the forefront of defeating Hitler and now, on the 75th anniversary of the liberation of
Auschwitz, the person who wants to sit in Winston Churchill’s chair at No10 is fostering anti-Semitism. If Corbyn wins he will make Britain a pariah on the world stage. It will be a disaster for democracy.”
A Labour spokesperson said: “This ranking is ridiculous and grossly offensive. Putting Corbyn at the head of a list containing neo-Nazi synagogue shooters is a transparent political attack and has nothing to do with tackling anti-Semitism.”
The devastating intervention comes as Tory strategists mount a concerted push for votes in the closing stages of the contest. Emulating the techniques used by the successful Vote Leave campaign in the 2016 EU referendum, the party yesterday launched a £100 000 (R1.9 million) a-day social media blitz to hammer home its core messages.
In a letter to the nation, Johnson said Corbyn’s immigration policy would “put even more pressure on the NHS and other public services”.
“He does not just want to keep free movement with the EU – where even murderers have free movement rights – but he wants to extend it to the whole world, so anyone from anywhere can come here any time they like.”
He writes that if the Conservatives do not win, the “nightmare alliance” of Corbyn and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon would become a reality.
As the campaign for one of the most significant elections since the World War II approaches its climax:
● More details emerged of the tough immigration systems planned by the Conservatives, including the digital tracking of migrants.
● Senior spies warned Corbyn about his approach to foreign policy as it emerged he had dismissed Islamic State as “no threat” to the UK.
● Corbyn also became embroiled in a row over Russia's alleged involvement in the leaking of NHS documents he brandished in the campaign.
● Labour high command was thrown into panic after its private research suggested that large swathes of its seats in the Midlands and the North could fall to the Tories.
Meanwhile, details emerged of Tory plans for a points-based immigration system after free movement ends.
It will split migrants into three categories: those of exceptional talent who will receive fast-track entry even without a job to go to; skilled workers who have enough points and a job offer; and "sector-specific" lowskilled entrants who will be on timelimited visas, ending indefinite leave to remain.
A digital tracking system will be introduced by 2022, allowing migrants to be counted in and out of the country for the first time. |