Clock ticks on peculiar campaign

THE MANIFESTO launches left me scratching my head.

Why did the Tory document fail to include any reference to tackling antisemitism in Britain or policies on the Middle East, Israel and the Palestinians?

Perhaps Theresa May observed Labour’s omnishambles on all things Israel and Jewish and decided no British Jew would be mad enough to vote for a party led by Jeremy Corbyn.

Senior pro-Israel Conservatives were relaxed about the omission, believing the community thinks Mrs May’s record “speaks for itself”.

The idea of political parties including such an intractable, niche foreign issue in British general election manifestos is a throwback to the days when UK policy on such matters actually made a difference.

The powers-that-be in Jerusalem, Ramallah, Gaza, Washington and Moscow are not sitting around waiting to hear what Tim Farron or Jeremy Corbyn think.

The Labour manifesto contained more than twice as many words on Israel and the Palestinians as it did on Syria. And more words than on Kashmir, Libya, Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea combined.

Is the Middle East conflict of such enormous relevance to everyday life in Britain that it is more important than almost the entire rest of the world?

The horrifying events in Manchester on Monday are proof, surely, of bigger issues for political leaders in this country to spend their time on.

There is at least one staple of traditional election campaigning which has been largely absent for many British Jews in the past month — the ministerial constituency visit.

In 2015, Labour and the Conservatives flooded key marginals in Jewish areas with ministers, shadow ministers and big names for the entirety of the campaign. London synagogues and community centres were awash with politicians.

David Cameron visited East Finchley and Colindale, Boris Johnson walked up and down Golders Green Road, Joan Bakewell was at a primary school, Luciana Berger popped into Carmelli’s, Emily Thornberry and Tessa Jowell went doorstepping in Hendon — it was a long list.

But this time? Aside from Ilford North, which remains on a knife-edge, we have seen barely a wave as ministerial cars whizz up the M1 to constituencies where incumbent Labour candidates with majorities above 5,000 are suddenly imperilled.

The conclusion is clear. With a fortnight to go, both Labour and Conservative high command must believe the results in these seats are already an inevitability.