Lib Dem peer accuses Finchley and Golders Green MP of 'disgusting' smear of party - The Jewish Chronicle

A Liberal Democrat Peer has accused Finchley and Golders Green's MP MIke Freer of being behind a "disgusting" smear campaign against his party, using old antisemitism claims.

Speaking to the JC after chairing a packed Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel event in Bournemouth, Lord Monroe Palmer accused the Tory MP of trying to tarnish his party with historic allegations of Jew-hate over two former party members - Baroness Jenny Tonge and ex-MP David Ward.

"It was quite disgusting," said Lord Palmer, who is Jewish. "There was this full page taken out in the North West London Circular (a bi-monthly communal advertising publication) suggesting people shouldn't vote Lib Dem because of David Ward and Jenny Tonge.

"It was three or four weeks ago and I wrote a response, which they printed.

"Of course we are not denying David Ward was once a member but he is expelled and even after trying to appeal he is still expelled.

"And Jenny Tonge, she is not a member of this party in any way whatsoever.

"Unlike the Labour Party, when the Lib Dems have a problem we deal with it."

Mr Ward, who lost his seat in 2015, sparked outrage in 2013 when he wrote he was "saddened that the Jews, who suffered unbelievable levels of persecution during the Holocaust, could within a few years of liberation from the death camps, be inflicting atrocities on Palestinians".

In 2010, Baroness Tonge was sacked as the Liberal Democrats' health spokesperson in the House of Lords after demanding an investigation into allegations that IDF aid workers in Haiti were harvesting organs.

She later resigned from the party.

Lord Palmer - who revealed he had only noticed Mr Freer's attack on his party because his wife was buying a hat for Yom Tov - was keen to point out previous Conservative issues on Israel and the Jews.

He said: "Few people talk about Alan Duncan - who is very anti-Israel or Crispin Blunt who chaired the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

"You can always throw dirt around in politics can't you."

In response, Mr Freer said: "As far as I am aware the Dave Ward who has been accused of antisemitic comments/views is a Lib Dem councillor on Bradford City Council for the Bolton and Undercliffe Ward as far as I can ascertain.

"I described Baroness Tonge as the former Lib Dem peer.”

Lord Palmer said the Lib Dems were gaining popularity in the community as a result of their position opposing Brexit and because of party leader Jo Swinson's committment not to enter into government with Jeremy Corbyn and her own tough talk on antisemitism.

He said Ms Swinson was "young, sparkling and her views on the Jewish community and on Israel are supportive."

He added: "She has got a vision - and I am 100 per cent behind her."

He also offered words of praise for new Lib Dem MP Luciana Berger, whom he catches sight of at Lib Dem conference hotel in Bournmouth.

"The two things for JC readers to consider is that we are for better or for worse the only party that is for staying in the EU," he says.

"That is something that appeals to a large number of Labour voters in north west London. It appeals to a large number of Conservative voters in the area too. A lot of people will be voting on that issue.

"There is also the point that Jeremy Corbyn is too friendly with antisemites.

"A lot of Jewish voters, the man and woman on the street, and MPs have stopped supporting Labour.

"And of a lot of Conservatives are not happy with what Boris Johnson is doing. So there are these issues - but let us not forget the Lib Dem's policy on housing, taxation and so on."

On the Lib Dem policy of backing a two state solution but also supporting the immedaite recognition of a Palestinian state, Lord Palmer said: "My personal view is that a state of Palestine is on the table but with a need for negotiating.

"We had a meeting with Tom Brake and the Liberal Friends Of Palestine to see if we could reach agreement around a position.

"We almost agreed on everything - the one thing we, the Lib Dem Friends of Israel gave way on was signing up to a state, because in reality they haven't got a Palestinian state until they have got a border.

"At our last Autumn conference there was motion on Israel Palestine which we said we would accept and then amend."

Lord Palmer has served as an adviser on the Middle East to the Liberal Democrat leaders and is Vice President Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel and on the Steering Group of Britain- Israel Parliamentary Peers Group.

He also serves as Vice Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Jews.

He said that Sunday's meeting of the LDFOI was one of the best attended at the party's annual conference.

A panel including Baroness Sarah Ludford, and BICOM's James Sorene discussing this week's Israeli election to a packed and responsive audience.