Corbyn’s loyal supporters ‘more likely to be anti-Jewish’

YouGov poll finds 35pc of those who ‘strongly like’ Labour leader agree with anti-Semitic statements

JEREMY CORBYN’s most ardent supporters are more likely to be anti-Semitic than the followers of other party leaders, according to the first analysis of its kind.

A YouGov poll found that more than one in three (35 per cent) of those who “strongly like” the Labour leader agreed with four or more statements deemed to be anti-Semitic, while 58 per cent held two or more such views.

The proportion of ardent supporters of Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson and Jo Swinson who agreed with four or more of the statements was significantly less, at 24 per cent, 21 per cent and 18 per cent respectively.

The polling is contained in a report by the Campaign Against Antisemitism, whose chief executive, Gideon Falter, claims in a foreword that “the leader of the once fiercely anti-racist Labour Party is now the candidate of choice for anti-Jewish racists”.

In a separate survey, as part of the campaign group’s annual Anti-Semitism Barometer, 42 per cent of British Jews said they had considered leaving the UK in the last two years – a record high. Some 85 per cent of those considering moving to another country listed their main reason as “anti-Semitism in political parties”.

Meanwhile, 84 per cent of respondents regarded Mr Corbyn as posing a threat to British Jews, compared to 15 per cent who said they held such a view about Mr Johnson.

The report comes after Mr Corbyn declined to apologise to British Jews after Ephraim Mirvis, the Chief Rabbi, criticised how Labour has dealt with anti-Semitism within the party.

A third poll, by Savanta ComRes, for The Sunday Telegraph, found that 44 per cent of people believe Rabbi Mirvis was correct to say that Mr Corbyn’s handling of anti-Semitism allegations makes him “unfit for high office”.

According to the poll, 51 per cent of people believe that Labour has a particular problem with anti-Semitism, and 34 per cent think the problem will increase in the UK if Mr Corbyn wins the election, compared to 29 per cent who disagreed. Some 29 per cent said Islamophobia would increase in the UK if Mr Johnson wins, although 34 per cent disagreed. But 61 per cent said it was not acceptable to describe women in burkas as looking like “letter boxes” and “bank robbers”, as Mr Johnson did in a column last year.

A YouGov poll of 2,040 people, carried out before the general election was called, asked respondents to what extent they liked Mr Corbyn, Mr Johnson, Mr Farage and Ms Swinson, on a scale of one, for “strongly dislike” to five, for “strongly like”.

In each case respondents were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with 13 different statements relating to Jews and Israel – 12 of which the Campaign Against Antisemitism said were antiSemitic.

Some statements reflected “anti-Zionist anti-Semitism” based on examples set out in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti-Semitism – including that “Israel treats the Palestinians like the Nazis treated the Jews”.

An analysis of the YouGov data carried out by Dr Daniel Allington, a senior lecturer at King’s College London, found that 60 per cent of those identifying as “very Left-wing” agreed that Israel treats the Palestinians like the Nazis treated the Jews.

Dr Allington also found that the more intensely respondents supported Mr Corbyn, the more likely they were to hold multiple anti-Semitic views. Some 37 per cent of those who “strongly dislike” Mr Corbyn agreed with two or more anti-Semitic statements, with the figure gradually rising to 58 per cent for those who “strongly like” the Labour leader.

The report states: “While the relationship between holding anti-Semitic views and supporting any of [Mr Farage, Mr Johnson and Ms Swinson] appears weak, there seems to be a much stronger relationship between holding anti-Semitic opinions and supporting Jeremy Corbyn.

“The leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, appears to be the candidate of choice for many anti-Semites.”

Overall 36 per cent of those surveyed agreed to two or more of the statements, with 18 per cent subscribing to four or more. Some 39 per cent of those who voted for Labour in 2017 held two or more anti-Semitic views, according to Dr Allington, compared to 34 per cent of those who voted Conservative.

The separate survey of 3,547 British Jews, carried out in October, was based on a self-selecting sample and mirrored a poll carried out annually since 2016.

A Labour Party spokesman, claimed two polls, from 2015 and 2017, “showed higher anti-Semitic attitudes among Conservative voters than Labour voters”. The spokesman added: “Labour continues to take robust action to root anti-Semitism out of our party.”

‘The leader of the once fiercely anti-racist Labour Party is now the candidate of choice for anti-Jewish racists’

Brexit continues to shape how voters propose to vote in the general election. However, this does not mean Boris Johnson can assume the ballot will give him the majority he needs to “get Brexit done”.

Both Labour and the Conservatives have made considerable progress since the election was called. At 42 per cent, the average level of support for the Conservatives in the polls published in the past seven days is five points up, while Labour, on 31 per cent, have advanced by seven points.

In contrast, the Liberal Democrats have slipped back by four points and the Brexit Party by eight – in part as a result of Nigel Farage’s decision not to stand candidates in seats being defended by the Conservatives.

However, nearly all movement has occurred within the two Brexit camps. Few voters appear to have switched to a party on the other side.

Support for the Tories among those who voted Leave in 2016’s referendum has increased by 14 points. In contrast, support for the party among those who backed Remain has eased back by