Jewish voters across the country are turning away from the Labour Party in droves, driven by concerns over antisemitism and a perceived shift to the far-left. In Bury South, a seat Labour has held for 22 years, customers at the Three Bakers kosher cafe expressed a common sentiment: 'Anyone But Corbyn'.
According to Jonathan Boyd of the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, two main factors are driving the exodus: the party's lurch to the left and its failure to address antisemitism within its ranks. 'To regain the support of Jewish voters, it would have to shift on both fronts,' he said.
Data from the 2017 election shows 67% of Jewish voters backed the Conservatives and only 11% supported Labour. A recent poll suggests Jewish support for Labour could fall to just 6% in the upcoming election. In Bury South, which has a 10% Jewish population, lifelong Labour supporter Aaron Kampf said antisemitism was the deciding factor for him and his peers.
The situation has been exacerbated by the intervention of the chief rabbi, who effectively urged the community not to vote Labour. In a surprising move, former Labour MP Ivan Lewis, who held Bury South for six terms, urged voters to back the Conservative candidate to stop Jeremy Corbyn.
However, pockets of support remain. In Hertsmere, Labour candidate Holly Kal-Weiss, a self-described 'socialist Jew', is appealing to Jewish members to stay and fight antisemitism from within. Meanwhile, in Finchley and Golders Green, former Labour MP Luciana Berger is standing for the Liberal Democrats after leaving Labour over 'institutional antisemitism'.
