Jeremy Corbyn meets controversial Charedi activist Shraga Stern
Several photographs emerged on social media, prompting immediate criticism
Controversial Charedi activist Shraga Stern was spotted in Parliament with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn today.
Several photographs emerged on social media showing Stern with three figures resembling Corbyn, his wife Laura Alvarez and shadow international development secretary Dan Carden.
Stern told Jewish News: “We just had a general discussion. It wasn’t a planned meeting. It was a general chat.
“After Prime Minister’s Questions, I just went and had a chat with him. It wasn’t a planned chat, no,” he added. “I was in the area and I sat next to him and had a chat while he was eating a meal.”
Labour councillor Joshua Garfield criticised the meeting, writing on Twitter: “This is the Jewish activist Corbyn chose to meet today, an extremist who believes inclusive [relationship sexual education] is against his ‘human rights.’
“Not a representative body of the mainstream Jewish community, nor progressive Jews w/ liberal values (the majority of UK Jews).”
Labour MP Margaret Hodge shared a photo of the meeting, writing: “Having lunch & wondering why Corbyn wants to be seen talking to an anti-LGBT activist who doesn’t represent the mainstream Jewish community yet chooses to sideline groups like @JewishLabour.”
Having lunch & wondering why Corbyn wants to be seen talking to an anti-LGBT activist who doesn't represent the mainstream Jewish community yet chooses to sideline groups like @JewishLabour… pic.twitter.com/2xsFgUSgHY
— Margaret Hodge (@margarethodge) July 17, 2019
Ella Rose, Jewish Labour Movement equalities officer, said: “Jeremy Corbyn appears intent on meeting those with views incompatible with the progressive politics he claims to champion.
“Stern has been a veteran campaigner against children being taught that LGBT people exist. His views do not represent the Labour Party and should have no place within it.”
Stern found himself at the centre of controversy earlier this year after his lawyers wrote to the Department for Education alleging requirements to teach children about different genders and sexualities violated his human rights.
More recently, Stern branded rabbi Avraham Pinter a “kapo” in an email sent to hundreds of Charedi residents about education.
“Through meeting Stern Corbyn is managing to alienate himself even further from all sections of the Jewish community.”
Responding to criticism, Stern said: “I have campaigned for religious freedom that any sex education should be taught by parents and not in classrooms and have never specifically campaigned against LGBT and am not a homophobe.”
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “The Labour Party has long supported and campaigned for LGBT+ inclusive education in schools, and the achievement of cross party support for legislation this year was a significant step forward in the struggle for LGBT+ equality.”
Dan Carden’s office have been approached for comment.
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.
