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Day of potential general election switched to October 15 to minimise Succot clash
Boris Johnson was initially eyeing up the previous day, on which religious observant Jews would be unable to vote
September 4, 2019 07:44
Boris Johnson was initially eyeing up the previous day, on which religious observant Jews would be unable to vote
September 4, 2019 07:44Boris Johnson’s planned date for a snap general election has been switched from Monday, October 14 following the Board of Deputies' warning of a clash with the first day of Succot.
Downing Street responded to the intervention from Board vice president Amanda Bowman by shifting its planned election date to Tuesday, October 15.
But the change — which had already sparked a push by the Jewish Leadership Council for Jewish voters to consider applying for postal votes — would still leave a window of less than three hours for observant Jews to make it to the polling stations.
Yom Tov ends in London just before 7pm on October 15, and many of those attending services are likely to remain in shul for Maariv and Havdalah prayers after that.
With polling stations closing at 10 pm, this would leave less than three hours for observant Jews to cast their votes.
Boris Johnson has said he would press ahead on Wednesday with moves to trigger an election under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act after he lost control of Brexit in a dramatic Commons vote.
MPs took control of the parliamentary agenda by 328 votes to 301 on Tuesday evening.
Under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act Mr Johnson needs the support of two-thirds of all MPs to call an election to take place, but Jeremy Corbyn said he would block the move until a bill to stop a no deal Brexit becoming law.
The JC was told Mr Corbyn and Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer were working on a possible plan to first write measures into law that would prevent a no deal Brexit, then secure an election that would take place in late November or December.
On Wednesday morning Sir Keir Starmer told Sky News: "We're not going to vote with Boris Johnson today to deprive ourselves of the opportunity to complete the business that we've just seized control of the House to do.
"We'll have a general election, sure, but we're not dancing to Boris Johnson's tune on this.”
The Board of Deputies was in touch with the Government on Monday 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.”
There was immediate concern that Barnet Council would be unable to cope with the demand for postal votes.
Two London constituencies with large Jewish populations, Finchley and Golders Green and Hendon, fall within the borough. Both are Conservative seats with narrow majorities.
