Abbott attacked over antisemitism
DIANE ABBOTT, the Shadow Home Secretary, says a Labour government would continue to fund the Community Security Trust’s protection of Jewish schools and synagogues.
Writing in the JC, the candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington says the party would also extend funding to Shomrim, the neighbourhood watch group run by volunteers, which protects strictly Orthodox Jews.
Outlining her relationship with the Jewish community and her future plans, Ms Abbott pledges to reverse the Conservative government’s cap on child tax credits.
Defending one of the safest Labour seats in the country and a 24,008 majority, Ms Abbott also wants to do more to honour Jews who served in the Second World War.
“As that generation passes away, I think government should find a way to memorialise them further,” she writes.
Ms Abbott has enjoyed a good relationship with Jews in the constituency, where the community makes up 11.3 per cent of the vote. However, her party’s perceived failure to deal with the antisemitism crisis has left strictly Orthodox voters unsure whether they can support her.
Rabbi Avraham Pinter, an ex-Labour councillor, says for the first time in more than 30 years he “might not vote” at all because of the “pain” and “anguish” caused by what he called Ms Abbott’s unwillingness to recognise Labour’s antisemitism problem.
“I have watched as the problem has got worse and worse. There is a blatant complacency from Labour when it comes to dealing with the issue,” he says.
Rabbi Pinter, a prominent figure in Europe’s largest Charedi community, claims repeated attempts to talk to Ms Abbott, someone he considers a friend, have failed. “She has been a good MP, she has been supportive of faith schools and although she has an exemplary record on fighting racism, she has yet to recognise there is a problem in her party.
“It is a major issue for the whole community. I am criticised by people for even being a member of the party. But this is my party.”
Amy Gray, Conservative candidate Sitting MP:
Diane Abbott (Lab) Majority: 24,008 Other candidates: Amy Gray (Con) Joe Richards (LD) Alastair Binnie-Lubbock (Green)
Size of electorate: 74,780 Percentage of Jewish voters: 11.3 for the seat, says she has heard anger directed at Labour from Jewish voters on the doorstep.
“I’ve debated Diane a number of times. She doesn’t spend enough time on the doorstep,” Ms Gray says.
The 33-year-old former teacher said the classroom was the ideal preparation for becoming an MP.
“I had girls in my classes who were born and educated in Britain but couldn’t read. They would say ‘what is the point? I want to get pregnant and get a council house’.”
Of Theresa May, Ms Gray says: “I think a lot of people like her. They understand her and she has a clear message and the Jewish community know she has a clear message on Israel too. This is an election about national leadership.”
Ms Gray acknowledges that housing is a key issue for Jews in the constituency.
“People want to be able to extend their family and their homes so they can stay with the community and I am keen to support that.”
Levi Shapiro, founder of the Jewish Community Council, believes life-long Labour voters are considering voting Conservative for the first time.
“You can’t blame them for it,” he says. “The wind is changing and a lot of people in the community are going with the Conservatives.
“Diane Abbott is not in touch with how the community feels. She doesn’t come across as sympathetic.”
But there remains support for her. Rabbi Herschel Gluck, Shomrim president, explains: “I am not an expert on the big picture, but as a local MP she has been devoted, helpful and committed to all residents of Hackney. She might be friends with Corbyn but she is her own person and that is how I judge her.
“There has been a large segment of our community who vote Labour because it is a natural home — I don’t think that will change.”