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Conservative chairman Brandon Lewis: 'We have huge responsibility to keep Corbyn out'

'I don’t think we’ve had a single case of antisemitism. As someone who is of Jewish background myself, I’m sure'

September 27, 2018 12:54
Tory Chairman Brandon Lewis with Theresa May
4 min read

Conservative chairman Brandon Lewis believes there is now a “huge responsibility” on his party to keep Jeremy Corbyn out of Downing Street — and insists that under his watch there is “zero tolerance” of any abuse by members.

Speaking to the JC ahead of next week’s Tory conference in Birmingham, the Minister without Portfolio and MP for Great Yarmouth also rules out suggestions of a snap election that could allow Labour into power sooner rather than later if Theresa May fails to secure a Brexit deal.

Accepting there is real concern within the Jewish community over a Corbyn government, Mr Lewis says: “I think there is a huge responsibility. The core duty of the Conservative Party at the moment is to keep Jeremy Corbyn out of Downing Street. We have got to be very focused. We have got to deliver on Brexit and we’ve also got a domestic agenda to deliver. We must show the British people we’ve got ideas and plans to take the country forward so that we don’t risk Corbyn getting into government.

“Labour’s current front bench are a genuine danger to our country on a whole range of issues — internationally, on security. Diane Abbott wanted to get rid of the security services. The idea of her as Home Secretary, John McDonnell as Chancellor and Corbyn as PM is genuinely scary.”