Tory silence over MP’s ‘Jewish lobby’ slur
Conservative Friends of Israel have joined community leaders in condemning a Tory MP who has steadfastly stood by his remarks in Parliament about a “Jewish lobby”.
Andrew Bridgen used last week’s debate on recognition of a Palestinian state to ask a colleague if he would agree that “given that the political system of the world’s superpower and our great ally the US is very susceptible to well-funded powerful lobbying groups and the power of the Jewish lobby in America, it falls to this country and this House to be the good but critical friend that Israel needs, and this motion just might lift that logjam on this troubled area?”
Despite criticism that his comments echoed “the most insulting of tropes against Jews”, the MP for North West Leicestershire only defended his comments when approached for clarification by Jewish News.
Reflecting on recent conversations with senators and congressmen in America, he said: “It was alleged to me that no American politician would be remotely critical publicly of anything Israel does because as they put it, if they do, their opponents in the elections or in the primaries would have millions of dollars dropped into their campaign fund, without even asking, to get rid of them.”
He added: “To have a situation where America’s political figures can’t make any comment remotely critical of Israel is in my view unhealthy. I do feel that it falls to Britain to be, when necessary, a critical friend of Israel. I can only regard the words and phrases that were used in Washington as the truth as those politicians saw it. I used the language that I recall was used to me.”
He insisted he is “certainly not anti-Semitic” and that he had historically sided with Israel in the Commons. CFI director Stuart Polak said the comments “demonstrate an ignorance of what does and does not constitute anti-Semitic language and it is very disappointing that he has chosen not to clarify his remarks… MPs should be clear on the sensitivities around the use of certain language.
There should be no place in the Conservative Party for these sorts of comments”. Jewish Leadership Council chief executive Simon Johnson said: “It is scarcely credible for an MP with one breath to claim that he is not anti-Semitic and with the next breath make reference to Jewish lobbying power based on unattributed comments by persons unknown on a trip to Washington.
As a friend, Mr Bridgen should know that such comments refer to the most insulting of tropes against Jews. He really should disassociate himself from such insults.” Several community leaders also noted that the Tory party is yet to comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, former international development minister Sir Alan Duncan (pictured, right) faced criticism over a speech in which he said “no settlement endorser should be considered fit to stand for election, remain a member of a mainstream political party or sit in a Parliament”.
In an attack on Israeli settlement policy in a speech to the Royal United Services Institute, he said the continued expansion of settlements “demonstrates that the occupier has little or no intention… of permitting a viable Palestinian state to come into existence”.
Duncan said settlement endorsement – which he described as a form of extremism – “should be on par with racism, homophobia and anti-Semitism…. Just as we quite rightly judge someone unfit for public office if they refuse to recognise Israel, so we should shun anyone who refuses to recognise that settlements are illegal.”
Board of Deputies vice president Jonathan Arkush said Duncan, “characterises defending Israel as equivalent to accusing people of wanting Israel’s destruction or being anti- Semitic.
This is a blatantly false allegation against the leadership bodies of the British Jewish community. It is a poisonous slur which should be retracted immediately.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
