Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell and Jenny Manson, the co-chair of Jewish Voice for Labour, refused to discuss Labour's antisemitism crisis at an event on Thursday night that had been marred by accusations from Jewish constituents that they had been blocked from attending.

Mr McDonnell, who has endorsed Ms Manson’s bid to be Labour’s parliamentary candidate in Finchley and Golders Green, called for “healing voices” and “mutual respect” to mend his party’s rift with the Jewish community. 

But before the meeting, held at the Clayton Crown Hotel in Cricklewood, dozens of pro-Zionist demonstrators, waving Israeli flags, complained that they had been shut out from the event after booking tickets. 

On Wednesday, a number of campaigners against antisemitism and members of the Jewish press were notified that their bookings had been cancelled. Journalists were later admitted.

A Jewish member of the audience demanded to know why some had been excluded. Ms Manson answered that all steps taken by her campaign team had been done so “with advice”. 

Etan Smallman, a Finchley and Golders Green constituent, was dragged away from the meeting by security guards after having his ticket to the event cancelled.

Mr Smallman, a freelance journalist, was told by Ms Manson’s campaign team that he had been barred because he did not have media accreditation.

He explained to the JC that he wished to attend in a personal capacity.

He said: “I’m not here in a professional capacity. I don’t see why that just because I work in a certain industry I should be barred from attending.

“I think that, either as a constituent or as a member of the press – which is what they seem to want to consider me this evening – I should be allowed access to a public meeting. I bought a ticket, walked here in the rain and I have waited courteously for an explanation.”

After initially gaining access to the hotel lobby, Mr Smallman was later asked to leave without an explanation. He refused, and was forcibly removed by security staff.

Another young constituent, Nir Finch-Cohen, told the JC that his ticket was cancelled without explanation.

Otherwise the discussion between Mr McDonnell and Ms Manson was limited to matters related to economic policy and Brexit. 

When asked by the JC, Mr McDonnell declined to offer his thoughts on Labour’s ongoing antisemitism crisis, insisting his party wanted only to “look to the future”.