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Analysis: Her love for us is sadly unrequited

November 24, 2016 20:57

With two years to go before Londoners elect their mayor, Jewish voters in the capital are facing a mini-dilemma. Who should we support?

The three leading contestants in the race for City Hall are certainly sufficiently well-known to pass one test - Ken, Oona and Boris are in a select group of politicians recognisable by their first names alone.

But deciding among the trio poses a challenge for the Jewish community.

Ms King, a younger, fresher face with her own diverse background, could be expected to attract mass support from London's Labour-leaning Jews, based on both her track record and her role as the "anyone but Ken" candidate.

Mr Livingstone's controversial previous stint running London - during which he welcomed radical Islamic cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi and compared a Jewish journalist to a concentration camp guard - went down like a lead balloon with many Jews in the capital.

So why is Ms King apparently struggling to attract top-level Jewish Labour backers? It could be because her previous stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict angered the Jewish community.

And, to Ms King's possible chagrin, Jewish Labour backers believe she could beat Boris, but that Boris would beat Ken - and Boris, the love-bomber, remains the community's clear favourite to continue as Mayor of London.

November 24, 2016 20:57

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