The Board of Deputies' 2015 general election manifesto received a positive reception at its launch in Manchester this week
The document makes 10 Jewish policy demands following Board consultation with 360 communal organisations and individuals. It covers Middle East policies, and on calls MPs and parliamentary candidates to defend religious slaughter, circumcision and Jewish faith schools while working to oppose antisemitism and Islamophobia, poverty and climate change.
Members of the city’s Jewish community attended the launch which was accompanied by a panel debate with local Conservative MP Graham Brady and Labour's shadow Middle East minister Ian Lucas, who was in Manchester for the Labour Party conference.
Board chief executive, Gillian Merron faced criticism over the role of the community’s leaders in combating antisemitism sparked by the Gaza conflict this summer.
Ms Merron said anti-Israel rhetoric and boycott protests had “crossed the line”.
She said: “We know the importance of our voices being heard around the Gaza-Israel conflict and this manifesto is a step forward for the Jewish community.”
Mr Lucas said the manifesto offered “clarity of explanation of Jewish views of what is sometimes hazy and mysterious for those outside the Jewish community”.
Mr Lucas bore the brunt of audience criticism of Ed Miliband over Labour MP Yasmin Quereshi who apologised after comparing Gaza to the Holocaust comparison and calling for a boycott of Israel.
“The Labour leader made absolutely clear the party does not support boycotts of Israel,” Mr Lucas responded.
Agreeing with “75 per cent of the manifesto”, Mr Brady welcomed “upping the volume” from the Jewish community.
He also supported a call for a law allowing only British flags to be flown over civic buildings. He believed the councils that had displayed Palestinians flags in recent weeks were “importing conflict”.
He also criticised the Liberal Democrats for not reprimanding its MPs strongly enough over anti-Israel statements.