By-election voters blame ‘Zionist lobby’
RESIDENTS IN Batley and Spen have told the JC that “lesbianism” and the “Zionist lobby” are reasons why they will abandon Labour at the constituency’s upcoming by-election.
One voter criticised the Labour candidate Kim Leadbeater because she “spoke against Palestine”. Her sister, the murdered Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox, had spoken “favourably of Muslims and Palestine” but “they gave an English a pistol to kill her”, he said.
Over two days, the JC spoke to residents across the West Yorkshire constituency, covering areas including Hyrstand Road, Albion Street, Market Place, Town Street and Oak View.
One voter said that Labour leader Keir Starmer “follows the Zionist lobby” and that the party’s candidate Ms Leadbeater was promoting “male to male relations” within schools.
Residents — several of whom were speaking in Urdu — also voiced strong support for independent candidate George Galloway. Mr Galloway, who has previously heaped praise on the Assad regime in Syria, was sacked by talkRADIO over an alleged antisemitic tweet last year.
The former MP for Bradford West also declared the city an “Israel-free zone” in 2014, prompting West Yorkshire Police to interview him under caution.
In Batley and Spen, one voter told the JC: “The local community feels that Labour leader Keir Starmer is a wrong man from the Muslim point of view.
“He’s from the Zionist lobby and follows the Zionist lobby. He’s not the voice for Muslims. His opponent George Galloway has always raised his voice for Palestine and… that’s the reason why the community is supporting Galloway and there is a movement for him. Locally, also people feel that the councillors didn’t deliver and as with all elections, such issues surface when elections come.”
Another voter said: “George Galloway speaks openly for Palestine, and he will raise the issue of Palestine in Parliament. He speaks like Muslims and says salaam like Muslims. “
In a different conversation, another said: “You know the woman standing for Labour, her sister used to live locally. She spoke favourably of Muslims and Palestine in the parliament. They (the British establishment) got her killed as per a plan.
“They gave an English a pistol to kill her when she was sitting in a library. Now her sister has come but she is so bad that first she’s a lesbian and she supports the gay system (sic). And she also spoke against Palestine.” As things stand, the Conservatives look set to take the Batley and Spen by-election, which is due to take place on Thursday next week. The seat has swung red at every election since 1983. However, polling released by Survation on Sunday placed Tory candidate Ryan Stephenson in the lead on 47 per cent.
Ms Leadbeater polled in second place with 41 per cent of the vote, meanwhile Mr Galloway is predicted to take six per cent, splitting the Labour vote.
One voter said: “Labour policies here are not right… this Labour lady has spoken against Palestine and she wants to promote Lesbianism.”
George Galloway has always raised his voice for Palestine’
Last week we revealed, via a secret recording, some of the antisemitic conversations among participants in a pro-Palestinian car convoy. Our report this week from Batley and Spen required no such concealment. Our reporter simply approached local residents and spoke to them. They conversed in Urdu, and it may be that this made those we approached more relaxed about speaking to a reporter so openly about their views of Labour and, especially, Sir Keir Starmer — who, as one put it, is “from the Zionist lobby and follows the Zionist lobby”. None of what we have reported is surprising. Such views are depressingly widespread in some parts of Britain. But it seems clear that the situation is getting worse, not better. The evidence suggests that open antisemitism is on the increase.
Above all, community leaders need to take a stand, to denounce antisemitism and to campaign against it. What is more often happening, however, is that organisations and people who exploit communal tensions and who pander to extremism are deliberately making things worse, feeding off and magnifying existing anti-Jewish feeling. And now, in Batley and Spen, arrives George Galloway. Mr Galloway’s byelection campaign is a disaster for the area. His mere presence makes things worse. And, worryingly but predictably, he appears to be making an impact. This has been one of the most tawdry by-election campaigns in memory. It is a depressing thought that this may not be anything like the worst of it.
This has been one of the most tawdry by-election campaigns in memory’