Liberal Democrats 'would not enter any Coalition' with Jeremy Corbyn

According to the JC’s own polls, the majority of British Jews had been expected to vote for the Conservative Party in a general election – with many doing so in order to prevent a Labour government under Mr Corbyn.

But there is evidence of growing disquiet amongst some in the community over Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s No Deal Brexit strategy – and a possible alliance with Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party.

Last week, veteran Lib Dem peer Lord Monroe Palmer suggested that there could be an “exodus” of British Jewish voters towards his party - and the decision of Ms Berger, who quit Labour in February citing rampant anti-Jewish racism, to join the LibDems appears to have made that prospect more likely.

But some in the community have expressed the fear that after a general election, with Labour unable to command an outright majority, Ms Swinson would agree to support a Corbyn government, however loosely.

Ms Swinson has previously ruled out working with Mr Corbyn – branding him a Brexiteer who could not be trusted to fight for a second referendum to keep the UK in the EU. But she has been careful until now to avoid committing herself after an election. But Ms Berger's comments suggest she has hardened that commitment to include not supporting Mr Corbyn after an election.

Asked if she had sought an assurance from Ms Swinson ahead of her decision to join the party that the Lib Dems would not, in any circumstance, prop up a Corbyn-led government, Ms Berger told the JC: “Jo Swinson has made clear the Lib Dems would not enter any coalition with Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister.

“The fact that he is a Brexiteer reinforces the gulf between his vision for the future of our country and that of the Liberal Democrats.

“Jo has also said that his inability to act on antisemitism in the Labour Party would make it impossible for her to work with him on a personal level in any sort of arrangement."

The 38 year-old MP, who is not expected to stand in her current Liverpool Wavertree constituency again, also said she believed the Lib Dems are determined to root out antisemitism under their new leader.

“Political parties are judged by how they deal with racism in their ranks rather than their empty words," she said.

“As the party’s record demonstrates, I am convinced that the Liberal Democrats are capable of dealing with antisemitism and any form of racism within the party, and more importantly that they actively want to.

"This is in stark contrast to my experience with the Labour Party."

After announcing Ms Berger’s decision to join her party last Thursday, Ms  Swinson said she was “delighted”  and praised the former Jewish Labour Movement parliamentary chair as “a passionate advocate for women’s and LGBT+ rights, and she’s at the forefront of efforts to counter antisemitism and prevent discrimination.”

There has been speculation that Ms Berger could eventually be announced as a Lib Dem candidate in North London – possibly in Finchley and Golders Green, where 20 per cent of the electorate are Jewish.

But there is already a Lib Dem candidate selected to fight the seat, currently held by Tory MP Mike Freer.

Many long-time Conservative voters – especially in heavily Jewish populated seats in north London such Finchley and Golders Green, Hendon and Chipping Barnet – are also fearful that by voting Lib Dem at the next election they could end up splitting the anti-Labour vote and allowing candidates for Mr Corbyn’s party to triumph.

“Brexit is going to dominate the election, whenever it is held,” said Ms Berger, when asked about these fears. “The simple fact is that these are staunch remain constituencies currently being represented by Brexit-supporting Conservative MPs, including some MPs who chose to sign Johnson’s no deal pledge in return for a ministerial job.

"It will be extremely hard for those MPs to retain the support of voters in those constituencies, and rightly so.

“The only clear, unequivocal alternative is the Liberal Democrats. We want to stop Brexit. “ Asked about where she might stand next for election Ms Berger said: “That’s not in my gift — that lies with the party.”