Senior Rabbi Breaks Tradition To Plead People Not To Vote For Corbyn

1 November 2019, 13:05 | Updated: 1 November 2019, 13:34

"Never before would I have told my congregants how to vote, it would just have been unthinkable," a senior Rabbi tells Nick Ferrari, after breaking all tradition to advise people not to back Jeremy Corbyn amid concerns of anti-Semitism.

Rabbi Jonathon Romaine said: "We've always avoided being party political, unless you compromise your faith."

"But this is an unprecedented situation, never before have we had a mainstream party be widely seen as anti-Semitic. We used to with the National Front and BNP but not the central party.

Also, astonishingly Labour, which has had a long record of fighting prejudice that really does seem to have changed under Corbyn because never before would I have told my congregants how to vote, it would just have been unthinkable."

He said no Labour leader previous to Corbyn had ever been accused of being remotely anti-Semitic.

Nick Ferrari, who talked earlier with a Labour Party spokesperson, recounted that they are reportedly "doing everything they can" to crack down on any prejudiced behaviour.

"They would say that," said Dr Romaine, "the proof is other people in the party who contradict them. If you think of the Deputy Leader Tom Watson who says he's ashamed of what's going on."

Margaret Hodge: Jeremy Corbyn is anti-Semitic and racist
Margaret Hodge: Jeremy Corbyn is anti-Semitic and racist. Picture: PA

He recounted Margaret Hodge in East London who said "Corbyn is anti-Semitic and racist."

He said the "biggest proof of all" is that Labour is being referred to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which has "a very high bar for taking on cases."

The Rabbi continued that: "They simply would never have investigated Labour for racism or anti-Semitism if they didn't have enormous amount of evidence put before them." He acknowledged that they may not be found guilty, but there must be enough information to investigate.

Nick Ferrari asked what it would mean for Jewish people if Jeremy Corbyn was elected Prime Minister.

"It'll mean we're in a situation we've never been in before where a party that is ruling the country has had a three year history of being racist and it's not just about Jews, this is about anyone who is against discrimination or prejudice.

This is not about Labour per se, this is not about the Labour manifesto, this is about current leadership. Whilst he's running the party I think anybody with integrity will not want a discriminatory party at a leadership level."

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

Rishi Sunak’s job is under threat from a plot of backbench Tory MPs who want to replace him with Penny Mordaunt before the general election.

Tories 'need to stop messing around and get behind the Prime Minister,' Business Secretary tells LBC

Exclusive
'This is trivia': Kemi Badenoch hits out at continued furore over Tory donor 'racism' row

'This is trivia': Kemi Badenoch hits out at continued furore over Tory donor 'racism' row

Government suspends tariffs on key imports to boost SMEs launching £660 million northern powerhouse fund

Government suspends tariffs on key imports to boost SMEs launching £660 million northern powerhouse fund

'Floating voters' unconvinced by Jeremy Hunt's Budget

LBC's 'Floating Voters' left unconvinced by Jeremy Hunt's Budget

Leila Khaled, who hijacked planes, will appear via video link at a fundraiser hosted by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Andy Street wants police to look at the event

'I'm not comfortable with it': West Mids Mayor to speak to police amid fury over Palestinian hijacker’s fundraiser

Andy Street taking calls from the public on Nick Ferrari at Breakfast

Tory MP's claim that Birmingham has 'no-go areas' was 'ridiculous', West Midlands Mayor tells LBC

Minister quizzed on tweet where he described Trump as 'cancer'

Minister Bim Afolami says tweet in which he referred to Donald Trump as 'a cancer' is appropriate

Lee Anderson

Police 'looking into hate speech complaint against Lee Anderson' after MP said Sadiq Khan was controlled by Islamists

Richard Tice said he turned down two Tories who tried to join the party

Reform UK leader Richard Tice says he rejected two Tory MPs who tried to defect in the last year

Michael Tomlinson repeatedly refused to answer Nick Ferrari's question

Nick Ferrari cuts off minister who refuses to answer his questions nine times over Lee Anderson's 'Islamophobic remarks'

Rishi Sunak is facing a revolt for sacking Lee Anderson

Lee Anderson refuses to apologise for 'Islamist' comments as he doubles down on criticism of Sadiq Khan

Rishi Sunak is facing a revolt for sacking Lee Anderson

PM denies Tories have 'Islamophobic tendencies' as minister says Lee Anderson's comments were 'profoundly wrong'

Dame Esther Rantzen has told LBC why she is campaigning to change the law on assisted dying

‘Dogs get treated better than humans’, Esther Rantzen says, as TV legend demands assisted dying law change

Rishi Sunak (l) puts on a brave face to the Tories by-election defeats on a visit to Harlow. New Kingswood MP Damien Egan (top r) and Wellingborough MP Gem Kitchen (bottom r)

Rishi Sunak begs frustrated Tories 'not to put Starmer in power' after party suffers double by-election disaster

New Labour MPs Damien Egan and Gen Kitchen

'They are not very good results': Tory chairman admits after double by-election drubbings as MPs call for tax cuts

The peer was speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast

'It was known yesterday' Azhar Ali had made more Israel conspiracy theory comments, peer tells LBC