Brexit could be crucial in key marginal
WITH TURNOUT among the Jewish electorate usually as high as 80 per cent during general elections, the 5,000-plus Jewish votes up for grabs in Hampstead and Kilburn are likely to be crucial in determining the final result.
In 2015, Labour’s Tulip Siddiq triumphed over the Conservative candidate by a slender 1,138 votes.
The margin for Oscarwinning actress Glenda Jackson in 2010 was even more threadbare — with just 42 votes winning the seat for Labour.
Conservative Party campaign leaflets posted through doors in the constituency emphasise Ms Siddiq’s support for Jeremy Corbyn during the party leadership contest two years ago. Opponents believe the Labour candidate’s link to Mr Corbyn could be a big negative for her, especially among those crucial Jewish voters.
But Ms Siddiq explains: “The Tories are trying to make a big thing out of the fact that I nominated Jeremy. They conveniently forget that I resigned from his front bench, and that I supported Owen Smith the second time around.
“The truth is Jeremy himself told me, and others, that he didn’t want to be leader when he stood, and that he was only doing so to broaden the debate.”
Ms Siddiq is well-connected with the Jewish community — she has held surgeries at the JW3 community centre, her child attends a Jewish nursery school and she is vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamen- Sitting MP:
Tulip Siddiq (Lab) Majority: 1,138
Other candidates: ClaireLouise Leyland (Con) Kirsty Allan (LD) John Mansook (Green) Size of electorate: 78,552 Percentage of Jewish voters: 6.5 tary Group Against Antisemitism. She called for Ken Livingstone to be kicked out of the party.
Conservative candidate Claire-Louise Leyland, a Camden councillor and art therapist, is pictured next to a large image of Theresa May on her campaign leaflet.
She is only too aware of the need to convince potential Conservative voters in a constituency where only 23 per cent backed Leave in the EU referendum that the Prime Minister’s devotion to an apparent hard-Brexit should not put them off continued support of her party.
Ms Leyland says: “I worked on the Stronger In campaign last year. Like many living in the constituency, I was Bottom left, Claire-Louise Leyland,
Tulip Siddiq
disappointed by the result of the referendum.
“But this was a democratic process and it should be respected. We need to work together to get the best deal that we can for our country.”
On Israel and antisemitism she adds: “Theresa May has been a staunch supporter of the state of Israel and its right to defend itself from terror. If elected, I’d be proud to play my part in ensuring that the government continues to understand and respect the community.”
Both Labour and Conservative candidates fear leakage of votes to the Lib Dems. Tim Farron’s party collapsed to a poor third place in 2015 — but in that close 2010 contest the party was within 1,000 votes of winning the seat.
Kirsty Allan, who advises corporations on public policy and risk at Peter Mandelson’s Global Counsel and has previously worked for former Lib Dem ministers Norman Lamb and Lynne Featherstone, is standing on a firm proEU ticket. She believes there is a link between anti-EU sentiment and xenophobia and racism.
“The rise in antisemitism is deeply disturbing, and we’ve seen how the nationalist undertones of the Brexit vote have normalised behaviour that is hurtful and offensive to many people.
“The Liberal Democrats believe in tolerance and diversity, and antisemitism has no place in our party, our politics, or our society.”
There was talk of Green Party candidate John Mansook standing down as part of a “progressive alliance” with Labour, allowing Ms Siddiq to count on the bulk of the 2,387 votes that went to the Greens last time, but the deal failed to materialise.
Rainbow George Weiss and Hugh Easterbrook are standing as independent candidates.