Different under Keir

VAngela Epstein’s analysis of Christian Wakeford MP’s defection to Labour simply doesn’t hold water (So Bury South has a Labour MP? I’m seeing red, 28 January). Her article would have been spot on had it been written when Jeremy Corbyn was leader. The ward I represent in Bury South has by far the largest number of Jewish residents in Bury, so I know all too well how toxic his name was on the doorstep with all voters and not just Jewish ones.

But somebody should tell Ms Epstein that Corbyn isn’t leader any more. Keir Starmer is, and now Labour is truly under new management — having taken decisive steps to respond to the damning EHRC report and tackle antisemitism for once and for all. Don’t take it from me, take it from those on the frontline of Labour’s antisemitism crisis: Jewish Labour members. The Jewish Labour Movement surveyed its members last month and found that 90% of them believed Starmer was committed to tackling antisemitism. The equivalent figure for Corbyn was four percent. As Christian Wakeford said himself: Starmer has made Labour respectable again and that was why he felt able to cross the floor. So the picture painted by Ms Epstein of some great betrayal of his Jewish voters is no such thing. She may not like Labour, fair enough. But she can’t pretend the party hasn’t changed for the better in the past two years.

And frankly, she should know much better than to use ugly phrases like a “pound of flesh” when talking about antisemitism in politics.

Cllr Richard Gold

Labour Councillor for Sedgley Ward, Prestwich