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Sadiq Khan: 'Labour must rebuild trust with Jewish community'
Sadiq Khan tells charity dinner of his upset that Jews feel Labour doesn't always have their best interests at heart
June 13, 2017 10:03
Sadiq Khan tells charity dinner of his upset that Jews feel Labour doesn't always have their best interests at heart
June 13, 2017 10:03London Mayor Sadiq Khan has told Jewish Care supporters that following "a disintegration of trust" between Labour and British Jewry, the Labour Party must strive to restore it.
Addressing the charity's annual dinner in central London on Monday, Mr Khan said: "Too many of you have been made to feel at times that Labour doesn’t always have the best interests of your community at heart.
"The aftermath of a big election is usually the time for all political parties to take stock and I believe a fundamental part of this reflection and change for the Labour Party must be a drive to rebuild trust with you the Jewish community - not to win votes but because it’s the right thing to do.
"And I’ll be using all of my influence within the Labour Party to ensure that happens."
Speaking to the JC afterwards, Mr Khan said that as a party that aspired to be in government, "it can’t be acceptable that there is any community that feels the Labour Party is not on their side. And so we’ve got to redouble our efforts to make sure the concerns the Jewish community has had over the last few years are addressed.
"I’m going to use my influence within the party to address this issue and there’s a whole host of things we’ve got to do. Simple things like making sure the Jewish community recognises that we recognise there is no hierarchy in racism. Racism is racism. We’ve got to make sure the Jewish community understands that by first understanding that ourselves."
Labour must ensure that "whenever there is a complaint of antisemitism made, it’s taken seriously by the party". It was also important to make sure "people feel the Labour Party is for them, even more so if they are of a minority community."
Mr Khan also fulsomely praised the work of the charity, and British Jewry in general, saying: "As a community you care for one another, you look out for one another, something that is an inspiration to us all."
Jewish Care was also applauded by singer Craig David, whose performance closed the event. David had visited one of its homes, where the mother of his manager, Colin Lester, is a resident, and said the experience had "nourished my soul".
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