I have spent a lifetime Òghting antisemitism

THE EAST End of London has one of the oldest Jewish communities in the country. And it has always been a great source of pride to me to represent Hackney with its important social, political and cultural links with the Jewish community. The East End has produced an array of famous politicians and Labour leaders, including my distinguished predecessor David Weitzman who represented Stoke Newington from 1945 to 1979.

As a new MP some of my earliest campaigns were on behalf of the Jewish community. I lobbied Conservative government ministers to get recognition and state support for schools serving the Charedi community.

I campaigned to defend the practice of ritual slaughter. I lobbied Labour ministers on immigration rules, which made it difficult for the Charedi community to marry. Most recently I intervened with the NHS to allow a Jewish-owned pharmacist to close on Jewish holidays.

Although we have seen much progress on diversity generally since I became an MP, sadly in recent times we have seen a rise in antisemitism internationally and here in the UK, where there is a shocking tide of racist and antisemitic abuse online. There has also been a rise in hate crime in this country, since the Brexit vote last year. In the controversies in the Labour Party, the leader Jeremy Corbyn has made clear his unremitting hostility to antisemitism.

I obviously support the work of the CST defending synagogues and schools. But I also support the work of Shomrim. As Home Secretary I would be committed to continue to fund the CST. I would also want to give funding and help to Shomrim.

I have spent a lifetime fighting racism and antisemitism, wherever they rear their ugly heads, including in my own party. After all these years I hope that no one doubts my commitment on these issues.

When I first became an MP there were very many Jewish men and women still alive who had fought in the war. They were often members of the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women (Ajex). As that generation passes away, I think the government should find a way to memorialise them further. I would also reverse the Tory policy of restricting benefits to the first two children. This is a cruel and unfair policy which will particularly hit the Charedi community.

In a few short weeks we will be facing a general election. Readers of the JC will make up their own minds how to vote. But, if I am elected I will continue to fight for all my constituents, as I have done for 30 years.