Become a Member
Rosa Doherty

By

Rosa Doherty,

Rosa Doherty

Opinion

Confessional couples promise to be good

July 23, 2015 12:07
Lab leaders
1 min read

It is not often that a hustings can seriously be described as "the hottest ticket in town", but Monday's event with the four Labour leadership contenders certainly attracted the crowds.

The 270-seat hall at JW3 was filled to capacity, and other rooms had to be made available to accommodate the ticketless who turned up and followed proceedings on a video link.

Labour's leading supporters of Israel, including Ruth Smeeth, Michael Dugher, Luciana Berger and Louise Ellman, were among those packed into the hall.

Journalist Jonathan Freedland, who chaired the event, asked audience members to conduct themselves "politely" and to show "courtesy", referring to a panel discussion earlier this year involving a left-wing MP and Jewish participants that descended into heckling and name-calling.

To get more from opinion, click here to sign up for our free Editor's Picks newsletter.