Board of Deputies Vice Presidential hopefuls clash at hustings

The five candidates standing for election as Board of Deputies vice-presidents set out their stalls for the first time in public this week as they went head-to-head in a wide-ranging hustings.

Amanda Bowman, the deputy for Hampstead Synagogue, David Menoza-Wolfson, of Edgware and Hendon Reform, Gary Mond, the deputy for JNF, Richard Cohen, the deputy for Loughton and Chigwell, and Stuart MacDonald, who sits for Liberal Judaism, all took part in Tuesday evening’s online debate.

The most-asked question from deputies ahead of the Jewish News-partnered event concerned the recently-released report on racial inclusivity in the community. 

Asked by chair Jenni Frazer for his views on the report, Cohen said: “We owe each other equal respect – whatever our colour, orientation or political beliefs”. Bowman, fighting for a second term, said she would ensure the recommendations are implemented.

“What is clear is that there are things we have to address. The report is full of ideas about how to do things better,” she said. 

MacDonald criticised those who presented the more than 100 calls to action as “dictat” rather than recommendations while Mond said he thought it was “an excellent report overall” but was left wondering how some of the recommendations could be implemented. He said he “completely supported” the recommendations around avoiding racial profiling.

You can watch the recording of the hustings here: