Hodge is the headline act for Hadley Wood

A DISCUSSION on antisemitism featuring Dame Margaret Hodge attracted a capacity crowd to Hadley Wood Synagogue’s new premises.

Dame Margaret said Labour was the natural home for her and, for many years, the party of choice for the majority of Jewish voters. There had been some lingering antisemitism within the party — a mixture of anti-Israel, anti-capitalist and antiAmerican sentiments.

But under Ed Miliband, and to a much greater degree, under Jeremy Corbyn, the problem had been allowed to fester and grow. She claimed, “very sadly”, that Mr Corbyn’s lack of action on the issue defined him as an antisemite.

She believed that under a new leader, the party would once again become a friend of the Jews.

Also on the platform was the Community Security Trust’s Dave Rich, who said that, despite the increase in antisemitic incidents, the UK could not be described as an antisemitic country. He urged community members to be unafraid of pursuing an active Jewish life. Jonathan Boyd, director of the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, also spoke at the meeting.

In the ensuing Q&A, key topics of audience interest were how to combat rising antisemitism on social media, the need for greater education about Jewish life and boosting interfaith activities.

Hadley Wood chair John Melchior said members had left with greater awareness of the current situation — and a better understanding of the role they could play in combating antisemitism.