Yiddish leaflets led left-wingers to victory

A GRASSROOTS campaign by young Charedi activists focusing on housing struggles in Europe’s largest strictly Orthodox community has been credited with Labour strengthening its control of a North London authority.

Hackney Council’s Cazenove ward, which was targeted most heavily by the Achaim L’Deah group, saw Labour take three Liberal Democrat seats, including that of Ian Sharer, a well-known and respected community stalwart who had served as a councillor for 22 years.

The Lib Dems were wiped out in the borough as a result.

Campaigners for Achaim L’Deah — meaning “brothers of the same belief” — distributed leaflets in Yiddish primarily in Cazenove.

The group’s pitch was that only Labour, which controls the council, could amend planning policy to alleviate the problems of sub-standard and overcrowded housing.

The literature also sought to inform members of the community of Labour’s policies, as well as its share of seats relative to other parties.

Shraga Stern, one of the leaders of the Jewish group and the nephew of defeated Lib Dem candidate Isaac Kornbluh, told the JC: “Let’s hope this is the beginning of a better future for our community.

“The plan is simple. The Labour Party should now talk to us and we’re going to tell them our concerns. The mayor is a lovely guy and he is really a friend to our community. He is keen to listen.”

Labour’s Philip Glanville, re-elected as mayor, said there was “value” in meeting local activists face-to-face prior to the vote, describing the result as the culmination of “years of work in Cazenove”.

The mayor and successful Labour candidates stressed no deals had been offered by their party, although Achaim L’Deah literature heavily implied planning reform was likely.

Mr Sharer, defeated by 279 votes, warned against the “multitude of promises” made by activists, pointing out that the Labour Party had made no commitments.

Charedi activists celebrate with victorious Labour candidates and Philip Glanville (top right) He said: “I’m disappointed but not bitter. I have no problem with the way the Labour Party ran their campaign. Promises were made by others.”

Meanwhile the Conservative Party won a clean sweep in Springfield and Stamford Hill West, taking one seat from Labour.

Harvey Odze, a Springfield councillor, told the JC his party’s organisation and understanding of the commulast nity made a “decisive difference”.

He said: “We have represented them well for quite some time. Labour hold no answers whatsoever in Stamford Hill and the voters knew that.”

The five Conservatives in Springfield and Stamford Hill West serve as the only opposition in Hackney, with Labour winning the remaining

52 seats.