The leading issues in this month’s European Parliament elections — immigration and Britain’s future role in the European Union — are not topics of specific Jewish interest. But there are a number of potential outcomes when voters go to the polls which could have a direct impact.
Not least the threat posed by extreme far-right groups on the continent and the ongoing challenges to shechitah and brit milah.
They make the largely tepid responses from Britain’s leading parties to our questions on the issues concerning.
David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg have all pledged to protect Jewish practices at home and abroad. But beyond the platitudes there seems to be little depth of knowledge.
The Tory response to concern over religious slaughter and circumcision was astonishingly vague. Interesting as it may be to some voters, views on the future of EU fisheries legislation will excite few Jews, beyond concern that their smoked salmon bagels may suffer in some way.
