It is perfectly acceptable to say that there is a problem with anti-Semitism on the left, like there is in wider society, but also say that some on the right of British politics are using the scandal that is currently engulfing the Labour Party for political gain.
A Conservative activist and former Parish Councillor has been sharply criticised for seemingly backing up this notion.
Instead of showing any real concern for the Jewish community, or their worries about a spike in anti-Semitism, Tory activist David Thomas seems more concerned about the ‘perfect timing’ of the scandal due to the up and coming local elections in May.
Not only that, but Thomas appears to give the Conservatives credit for reaping the political rewards of the scandal in the first place.
In response to a television clip of Labour MP John Mann sitting on the fence when asked whether Corbyn was an anti-Semite, Thomas seemed to brag about how “we’ve been able to pull this off.”
The full tweet reads:
“It’s an actual stroke of genius we’ve been able to pull this off, perfect timing heading into the elections too”
The tweet has since been deleted, but luckily, the internet never forgets.
This disgusting attitude towards the real and pressing issue of anti-Semitism in British society exemplifies how the Tories are callously turning this into a party political issue, and focusing on electoral gains instead of seriously battling discrimination and racism.
Anybody serious about tackling the scourge of anti-Semitism should not be bragging about ‘pulling off’ a scandal such as this. Let’s hope this Tory activists’ comments are not symptomatic of a troubling wider attitude in the Conservative Party.
