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Opinion

Elections are no longer a binary choice for Jews

The Corbyn years are not forgotten, but it is a relief to have a choice how to vote once again

April 21, 2022 15:54
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Polling Station signs outside a school in the UK.
3 min read

All is not forgiven. How could it be? 

“My first words as Labour leader included an apology,” Keir Starmer told the JC recently. But however much distance he puts between himself and his predecessor, he was there. Present, and very much involved. 

In 2019, he asked us to elect a man who many feared would jeopardise the future of British Jews. He may have since publicly disavowed Jeremy Corbyn, he may even have frequently seemed to be at odds with the leadership back then, but the fact remains. He didn’t resign, nor even say, as Wes Streeting did, that he respected those who could not vote for him because of his leader. He hedged his bets, hence why I and others backed Lisa Nandy for leader.  

So not quite water under the bridge. But this isn’t a column about voting Labour. You know Starmer’s record and can evaluate for yourself whether enough has indeed been enough.