closeicon

Concern over disenfranchised Jews as proposed UK general election date clashes with Succot

Religiously observant Jews would be forced to apply for postal votes on 14 October — but can local councils cope?

articlemain

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 02: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivers a speech at 10 Downing Street on September 2, 2019 in London, England. Boris Johnson spoke to the public from Downing Street saying he hoped that MPs would vote with the government in not taking "No Deal" off the Brexit negotiating table with the EU. He said we are leaving the EU on 31st October "no ifs or buts". (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

September 03, 2019 10:32

Monday October 14, the date mooted for a snap general election, would cause problems for many Jews as it clashes with the first day of Succot.

Religiously observant Jews would be unable to go to the polls that day, forcing them to apply for postal or proxy votes.

The Board of Deputies said it had been in touch with the Government to express its "concerns and difficulties that our community would face", its vice president Amanda Bowman said.

She said: "If a General Election were to be held on Monday October 14 this would coincide with the festival of Succot.

"This means that, due to religious restrictions, observant Jews would not be able to vote in person or participate on the day.

"While we understand that the situation surrounding Brexit means that there is very little flexibility over dates, we have been in touch with the Government to explain the concerns and difficulties that our community would face.

"If a General Election is held on October 14, we will be encouraging everyone affected to apply for a postal vote so that their democratic rights are not affected.”

But whether Barnet Council would be able to cope with a huge surge of demands for postal votes remains open to question.

Two London constituencies with large Jewish populations, Finchley and Golders Green and Hendon, fall within the borough. Both are Conservative seats with narrow majorities.

Hundreds of Barnet residents — including Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and his wife Valerie — were turned away from polling stations during local elections in 2016 as a result of incomplete lists of voters being sent to poll clerks.

Some analysts believed that the sitting Conservative MPs held their seats in the last general election of 2017, when the party lost its overall majority, because of the anti-Labour swing among local Jews alarmed by Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has threatened to call an election if he loses a Brexit-related vote in Parliament this week.

But Labour would still have to agree to an election taking place.

September 03, 2019 10:32

Want more from the JC?

To continue reading, we just need a few details...

Want more from
the JC?

To continue reading, we just
need a few details...

Get the best news and views from across the Jewish world Get subscriber-only offers from our partners Subscribe to get access to our e-paper and archive