Opinion
Preserving Jewish values of peace and tolerance means we must fight to stay in the EU
Change UK candidate Karen Newman explains why she decided to stand as an MEP for the new party
May 14, 2019 11:57
2 min read
Change UK candidate Karen Newman explains why she decided to stand as an MEP for the new party
May 14, 2019 11:57Brexit is the clearly the biggest issue facing Britain in my lifetime.
I’ve never been a member of a political party, but it was obvious to me that the Labour and Conservative tribal approach to Brexit – prevaricating, and hoping to fudge decision after decision in the hope that the mud would stick to the other side when it’s over – was bad for Britain.
I was struck by the bravery of Luciana Berger, Anna Soubry and the other MPs who broke away in February to form what is now Change UK, but the trigger for me was when I went on the People’s March for a second referendum, and saw a home-made placard which said “What did you do to prevent Brexit, Daddy?”
As a representative of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue on the Board of Deputies for British Jews, I’ve had the opportunity to listen at first hand to Louise Ellman and the antisemitic abuse she is subjected to on a daily basis from Labour party activists.
Meanwhile, a Nigel Farage-driven Britain, via his own party, or by forcing the Tories to tack to the right in an attempt to shore up their vote, will be a less tolerant and more hostile space for Jews.
I’ve become increasingly concerned at the discrimination that’s become more prevalent in Britain since the referendum; my 97-year-old stepfather is in a Jewish Care residential home, which would grind to a halt without the dedicated care provided by staff from British, European, African and Asian origin.
Part of what makes Britain great has always been our ability to welcome people who work hard and contribute to our society - and the climate of fear that Brexit has generated around immigration is as brutal as it is baseless. I was at a hustings meeting recently when the Brexit supporters made discussion on the key issues virtually impossible with their continual heckling.
So I was one of the 3,700 people who applied to Change UK to be an MEP candidate.
The day of my interview was truly surreal; it was on the morning of the first day of Passover, and I had agreed to make fruit salad for the Seder I was attending that evening. Former Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Chris Leslie looked up on YouTube the best way to cut a pineapple for me as I was becoming quite stressed about getting back in time to sort out the fruit salad! I’m proud to stand alongside Gavin Esler and the other six candidates seeking election for Change UK in London.
But most of all, as a Jew, I’m concerned about peace. As Jews know more than most, the natural state of Europe is not to be at peace. The political entity that has delivered more than 70 continuous years of peace is what we now call the European Union. A United Kingdom (which Brexit also threatens) within a strong Europe is the best way of preserving the values we hold dear, and the open, tolerant society which we love.