Board of Deputies and London Jewish Forum launch local election resources
A new version of the Jewish Manifesto for local government is accompanied by a guide to Jewish London for councillors, and a candidate trackers for Jewish voters
The Board of Deputies and the London Jewish Forum have launched the 2026 edition of the Jewish manifesto for local government ahead of next month’s council elections, with leaders of the two organisations describing “the vital role of locally elected politicians” and the importance of “transparency and continuity.”
Alongside the new version of the manifesto for local government – the latest in a series which has been running for more than a decade – LJF has also published a specific guide to Jewish London for councillors, as well as a candidate engagement tracker which will enable Jewish voters to see which politicians have interacted with that guide.
The new Manifesto for Local Government sets out six key priorities for prospective councillors to commit to, along with detailed examples of actions which councillors and councils can take. The priorities are: Fight antisemitism, Safeguard education, Promote community cohesion, Avoid importing conflict, Make public services inclusive, and Celebrate Jewish culture. Specific examples of actions councils can take are also included: for example, on the ‘fight antisemitism’ point, the document describes the need to “ensure action on antisemitic instances and graffiti, safeguard facilities and events, and seek training”.
Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg said: “Every party and every candidate must stand up for British values by condemning the cowardly acts of hate directed at our community. Our Manifesto makes clear the vital role of locally elected politicians and local authorities in providing security, fighting back against prejudice, avoiding importing international conflicts, and shaping the conditions in which our communities can continue to thrive.”
Writing for Jewish News today, Rosenberg, a former local councillor who was a key original creator of the Jewish political manifesto series back when he was a Board of Deputies’ staffer, described how “at the Board of Deputies we have no illusions about the situation. We expect that after the elections on 7 May will many of our communities will find themselves with unfamiliar local representation, and in some cases individuals in office with attitudes and agendas detrimental to our community’s values and interests.
“In this context we remain focussed on our core mission of providing a clear and democratically representative voice for our diverse community. And we are adapting to changing circumstances. This includes through clear eyed engagement with parties across the spectrum. We will ensure that all the relevant political parties understand the perspectives of British Jews, and what counts when it comes to earning the confidence of the Jewish community.”
Amanda Bowman, Co-Chair of London Jewish Forum and herself a former Vice President of the Board of Deputies, said:
“Our Guide is designed to help councillors understand how their decisions are experienced by Jewish residents across London. It sets out practical issues, from community safety to how local services are delivered in ways that recognise Jewish life. The Candidate Engagement Tracker builds on this by showing who has taken the time to engage with the Guide and the issues it raises.
“This is about transparency and continuity. It starts during the election period, but it continues after polling day, when councillors are making decisions that shape local services and community confidence.”
The local elections, to be held on Thursday 7 May, will decide which parties or independent candidates – will control more than 5,000 council seats in England. The Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd will also be holding elections simultaneously.
The Board and LJF have already run one local Jewish community hustings event in Haringey. Further local council hustings events are set to be held next week, in Westminster, Barnet and Camden. Additionally, the Board will be holding a hustings in Cardiff, together with the South Wales Jewish Representative Council.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
