Candidate will challenge Corbyn
► A BREXIT Party candidate who was due to stand in Hendon is to fight Jeremy Corbyn’s Islington North seat instead, after the party committed to not challenge sitting Tory MPs.
Yosef David said he was “honoured” to represent Nigel Farage’s party in the north London seat, telling the JC: “It has offered me the opportunity to stand in the name of pluralism and against antisemitism.
“Before we knew what was happening with people being stood down, the party asked me if I knew anyone to stand in Islington North to challenge Mr Corbyn about antisemitism,” said Mr David.
“He’s been very coy about discussing this, particularly in front of the religious community.
“I was honoured to be asked.” Mr David revealed he had only just received a delivery of 20,000 leaflets to support his campaign in Hendon. “It’s probably the right decision in regards to the marginals,” said Mr David of the move to pull out Brexit Party candidates.
“I think there has been some kind of arrangement with the Prime Minister.
“Nigel Farage has said a few things he has committed to do with regards to regulatory realignment. From what I can see, Brexit isn’t about xenophobia or extremism.” Mr David said his view of the EU was that it was “damaging” to the interests of the Jewish community. He added: “How can a small community advocate for its rights in a block of 500 million people better than it can in a country of 80 million? “When we are talking about shechita, halal slaughter and brit milah, we are just more able to advocate in our country, I would say, in beautiful Great Britain with its longstanding traditions of open mindedness.”