Sajid Javid in clash over claim that Labour would boycott Israel

JEREMY CORBYN would boycott Israel if he became Prime Minister, a leading Conservative figure has claimed.

Sajid Javid rounded on the Labour leader at a Board of Deputies/Jewish

hustings event, clashing with shadow cabinet member Sir Keir Starmer over Labour’s position on the boycott movement.

Sir Keir, the shadow Brexit minister, was asked to clarify Labour’s stance by the packed audience and said: “The Labour Party is against boycotts - and I am against boycotts.”

But Mr Javid hit back, saying: “It is just not right when you say the Labour Party does not support boycotts of Israel. You are misleading these good people.

“Jeremy Corbyn has said when asked about the BDS campaign — and I quote: ‘BDS is part and parcel of a process to be adopted’.

“And when he was asked about it again he said: ‘Sanctions are an appropriate way of dealing with Israel.’

“That is Labour’s position — if they were ever near power they would boycott Israel.”

A clearly angered Sir Keir responded: “It pains me there’s a discussion about antisemitism in my party — Ken Livingstone should have been expelled.”

The panel — which included Lib Dem Baroness Ludford and the SNP’s Kirsten Oswald — also answered questions on their parties’ positions on human rights and on the housing shortage.

Mr Javid was himself attacked on the government’s record on refugees. Sir Keir said that it was “disgraceful” that the government had failed to implement a pledge to allow 3,000 refugees into Britain.

Baroness Ludford outlined the Lib Dem commitment to fight antisemitism on the far right and among Islamists, and pointed to decisive action tak- en by party leader Tim Farron against Baroness Tonge and David Ward.

Kirsten Oswald, who is standing in East Renfrewshire — the Glasgow constituency which is home to around half of Scotland’s Jewish community — spoke of the importance of “cementing the relationships between all of our communities in Scotland”.

She said it was “really important” for her to travel to London to represent the party at the event.

The Sunday morning hustings was chaired by Gillian Merron, Board chief executive.

Ms Merron said: “We were delighted to bring together an impressive panel of senior politicians from the main political parties. There was a real buzz in the room as the event drew a big audience from across the UK and robust debate ensured candidates left with little doubt as to the commitment of the community to the main issues of the day.”