Good riddance

Credit is due to Tim Farron. Last year he told the JC that “antisemitism should be called out at every single opportunity it rears its ugly head”. In sacking David Ward as a LibDem candidate he has acted on those words — and swiftly, less than 24 hours after Mr Ward was selected by the Bradford East LibDems. Wednesday was a good day all round in the fight against mainstream antisemitism, with the vote earlier in the day by the NUS to remove Malia Bouattia as its president. Ms Bouattia, remember, was condemned by the Home Affairs Select Committee for her “obvious racism”. In their very different ways, both Mr Ward and Ms Bouattia injected poison into our politics. That both have now been given their marching orders is a welcome development.

Farewell friends 

Much as there are political figures we can all be pleased to see the back of, so there are others whose departures are a cause of great regret, no matter what one’s politics. Neither Sir Eric Pickles nor Michael Dugher have a sizeable Jewish vote in their constituency, so their tireless campaigning against antisemitism and on behalf of Israel’s right to live free from terror has been motivated by nothing other than conviction. Mr Dugher was a true friend and will be greatly missed. As for Sir Eric: for our community, he was the very definition of a mensch. Parliament and public life will be diminished without them.