London’s Conservative mayoral candidate: Jewish people ‘frightened’ of Sadiq Khan

The candidate representing the British Conservative Party for the position of London mayor claimed on Monday that the current Mayor, Sadiq Khan, is “divisive” and that members of the British Jewish community are “frightened” of him.

During the Conservative Friends of Israel event in Manchester, Susan Hall said: “I will ask for as much help as I can get in London because we need to defeat him. Particularly for our Jewish community.”

“I know how frightened some of the community is because of the divisive attitude of Sadiq Khan,” she said.

However, according to Sky News, her comments drew immediate condemnation from the community, with many describing them as “vile” and an example of “dog whistle politics”.

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British Jewish organisations released statements denouncing Hall’s remarks and expressing support for Khan, London’s first Muslim mayor with Pakistani heritage. The Board of Deputies of British Jews affirmed that Khan has consistently approached the Jewish community “with friendship and respect.”

Additionally, Jewish Labour parliament member Margaret Hodge said: “Khan has always called out antisemitism, wherever it has reared.”

Mike Katz, the chair of Jewish Labour, said Hall was “vile, ignorant and wrong” and urged her to apologise.

“Sadiq has consistently gone out of his way to work with the Jewish community. He stood with Jewish Labour when we spoke out on antisemitism in Labour,” he said.
“For Susan Hall to try to use this as a dog whistle is beneath contempt. She should apologise.”

In response to Sky News’ inquiry about whether she would apologise for her comments following the criticism, she claimed: “I will never offer an apology for advocating on behalf of our Jewish community.”

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