Brexit Party candidate urges Jewish voters not to support candidates purely because they are friends of community

The Brexit Party candidate for Hendon has called for the Jewish electorate to vote with “integrity” rather than backing those merely because they are deemed to be friends of the community.

Speaking to the JC, Yosef David said local Tory MP Matthew Offord was a “decent person” but that pro-Brexit supporters such recognise he is not offering “the clean break they wanted”.

Asked about Mr Offord’s attempts to woo the sizeable Jewish vote in the constituency, Mr David said: "The community needs to vote with integrity and vote for the party that best represents what they believe in.

“The idea of representing the Jewish community shouldn’t come into it. I am standing for more than just the community, I am standing for everyone.

“Matthew Offord is, and I sincerely believe this, a decent person. But I don’t think he is offering the clean Brexit people voted for.

“Mr Offord supported Theresa May’s deal which was a bad deal, and he’s supporting Boris Johnson’s deal, which is another bad deal.

Mr David has not been a member of any political party before, but the former youth worker felt motivated enough by the Brexit issue to put himself forward as a candidate in Nigel Farage’s party.

Suggesting that only a vote his party would see the UK truly break the link with the European Union, Mr David hit back at claims his beliefs would only sow further division in the country.

“We are actually looking for our country to be more at ease with itself socially and politically,” said the Golders Green resident, who is a trained social worker.

”l think there will be a huge reduction in reports of racism after we have left the EU.

“We as a nation need to heal ourselves. And it will come.

”We are robust country in terms of getting on with one another. ”

Mr David rejected suggestions the Brexit Party had become a home for far right extremists.

He said Sunday’s launch event for his campaign in Hendon typified the party’s “modern day outlook”.

Amongst the 70 or so people who attended the event - including Lance Foreman, the party’s Jewish MEP -  were Jewish, Muslim, female and male supporters, he said.

“I’m not sure far-right elements have managed to get into our party.

“You know if you vote for Labour and are of the left you are more likely to come into contact with past and current Communists.

“If you vote Conservative or Brexit Party you are more likely to come into contact with people who are on that right side.

“What I would say are the people advocating for Brexit are not right wing.

“There might be some extremist votes, you are going to get fringes on every position.

“But I would say that most of the messages being put across are actually positive - people are looking forward to making our own laws.

“From what I can see  Brexit isn’t about xenophobia or extremism. “ Mr David said his view of the EU was that it was “damaging” to the interests of the Jewish community.

“How can a small community advocate for its rights in a block of 500 million people better than it can in a country of 80 million?

”When we are talking about schechita, halal slaughter and on brit Milah we are just more able to advocate in our country.

“With regard to looking after our interests we are better, I would say, in beautiful Great Britain with its long/standing traditions of open mindedness.”

Mr David said: “We need to be careful. What could be a throw away comment can be very serious for communities.

“With George Soros, of course he should not be criticised for being Jewish. But if he speaks of moving to a more humanistic liberal Europe, rather than one of nation states – then people are entitled to have an opinion on him.”

He also said he had been “following Nigel Farage closely” and added: “I’ve never heard him say anything bordering on being antisemitic. He has consistently been a friend of the community.”