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Labour MP Naz Shah: 'I realised I was ignorant about Jews'

December 1, 2016 15:00
Naz Shah with Rudi Leavor

By

John Fisher,

John Fisher

1 min read

In the bridge-building spirit of the weekend, Bradford West Labour MP Naz Shah took an active role in the tea for refugees and asylum seekers at the local Reform synagogue, which was judged best interfaith partnership in the Mitzvah Day awards.

In April, Ms Shah apologised for a series of social media posts about Jews and Israel which led to her resigning as a parliamentary secretary to Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell.

She told the JC on Sunday that the lessons she had learned had "massively influenced" her thinking and made her a stronger person.

"I realised I was ignorant and I needed to learn about the Jewish faith and culture. I do not have hatred for Jewish people. I was never antisemitic but what I put out was antisemitic. I wanted to make a real apology rather than a politician's apology.