Chief says ‘no chance’ to Galloway meeting
GEORGE GALLOWAY has told the JC that he would be “honoured” to meet Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.
But the head of the United Synagogue has said that there is “no chance” he would meet the former Respect MP.
Mr Galloway, who is a long-standing anti-Israel activist, is currently campaigning to succeed Boris Johnson as the next Mayor of London.
Responding to a question from the JC after the Chief Rabbi met fellow mayoral candidates Sadiq Khan and Zac Goldsmith on Tuesday, a spokesman for Mr Galloway said: “Mr Galloway is always happy to meet religious and community leaders and would of course be honoured to meet the Chief Rabbi.”
In response, a representative for the Chief Rabbi said: “If Mr Gal- loway would genuinely like to meet the Chief Rabbi — a remark to a journalist strikes me as an odd way of trying to achieve it. You’ll have to forgive me for doubting the sincerity of this spokesman.”
Rabbi Mirvis’s representative added: “There is no chance that the Chief Rabbi would dignify Mr Galloway’s candidacy for Mayor of London by meeting him.”
Mr Galloway ,61, later tweeted :“Maybe they hoped for a different response. And are refusing to take yes for an answer. A poor show though.” On Tuesday afternoon, Rabbi Mirvis held separate meetings at his home with Labour’s Tooting MP Mr Khan and Mr Goldsmith, the Conservative MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston. They discussed issues facing the Jewish community in London.
Following the meeting, in addition to Mr Galloway, mayoral candidates for the Liberal Democrats, Green Party, Ukip and Respect told the JC on Wednesday that they too would look to meet Rabbi Mirvis.