Tories urged to act after candidate's vile claim that Jews fear Sadiq Khan

03 October 2023 , 09:17

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Susan Hall's vile claim was immediately slapped down by the Board of Deputies of British Jews (Image: Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)

Tories are under pressure to act after their candidate for London mayor launched a "disgusting" "dog whistle" attack claiming Jews fear Sadiq Khan.

Susan Hall - who has already come under fire for liking Twitter posts praising notorious racist Enoch Powell - made the vile remarks at a Tory Party Conference event. She said that London's Jewish population are “frightened” about “divisive” Mr Khan.

Among those who hit out was the Board of Deputies of British Jews, which said the incumbent London Mayor has treated the community with "friendship and respect". And Labour frontbencher Wes Streeting asked: "Will decent Conservatives ever call this out?"

Sadiq Khan has been passionately defended after Ms Hall's 'dog whistle' attack (PA)

Ms Hall told a fringe event: “I live in North London and I know the wealth and joy of the (Jewish) community. But I tell you something else, I know how frightened some of the community is because of the divisive attitudes of Sadiq Khan."

She continued: "One of the most important things that we can do when I become Mayor of London is make it safer for everybody, but particularly for our Jewish communities…" She went on: "So I will ask for as much help as I can get in London because we need to defeat him, particularly for our Jewish community.”

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The Board of Deputies of British Jews swiftly responded: "Throughout his tenure as Mayor, Sadiq Khan has treated our community with friendship & respect. We hope to co-host the key Mayoral candidates at a 2024 Jewish hustings, where it will be clear that while London Jews may have varying political views, there is no fear present at all."

And Mr Streeting, Shadow Health Secretary, wrote: "This is divisive and disgusting. Sadiq Khan has repeatedly stood by London’s Jewish communities in the fight against anti-Semitism. Susan Hall’s dog whistle politics have no place in London."

Meanwhile Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy posted: "This is an ugly dog whistle, from a Tory politician who’s only strategy is to spread fear. Sadiq Khan stands for all Londoners and has repeatedly fought anti-Semitism. Susan Hall should withdraw her statement immediately and apologise unreservedly."

Former Green Party mayoral candidate Sian Berry said: "I was in the 2016 Mayor campaign and saw the worst dog-whistle politics against Sadiq Khan, which Londoners firmly rejected. I called it out at the time. Senior Tories condemned it afterwards. They need to stop this now - it is not what London deserves."

It is not the first time Ms Hall has come under fire for remarks about Mr Khan. Earlier this month she insisted not everyone is offended by vile tweets lauding Enoch Powell and calling the capital “Londonistan”.

In a car crash radio interview, Susan Hall tied herself in knots as she was confronted about her social media history. A caller on LBC challenged the Tory for retweeting a message from Kate Hopkins that called Sadiq Khan “the nipple height mayor of Londonistan”. Asked by a woman called Lauren in Harrow how she is “planning to represent the great Muslim community of London”, she said: “When I retweeted. Oh, no, I don't think... I think I liked it. I don't know. This was a long time ago. That wasn't in my mind. Did I retweet it? I have no idea."

When told that she had replied to the post in 2019 with “Thank you Katie!,” she said: “I can't remember doing that. I tweet or used to all the time.”

The Mirror has contacted Tory HQ for comment.

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Dave Burke