Boris Johnson: Weevil infestation of antisemitism still evident under Starmer
Prime minister makes comments during speech to Conservative Friends of Israel, adding the 'thing I am most proud of all' is stopping Jeremy Corbyn from getting into Number 10
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Boris Johnson has suggested that “the weevil infestation of antisemitism” within the Labour Party is still in evidence under current leader Sir Keir Starmer.
In a speech delivered at a Conservative Friends of Israel lunch event, the Prime Minister said that following his election victory in 2019 “the thing I am most proud of all” is that “we protected this country” from antisemitism in Labour.
But he then told guests at the gathering in central London “though we kept Corbyn out and we sent the corduroy communist into space where he belongs you can still hear the noise of those weevils in the timbers of that Labour Party.”
The PM added:”I’m afraid some of the prejudices are still sadly the same and the people who have taken power are still part of the same movement, in many cases sadly still the same people who count Hamas and Hezbollah as their friends..”
Johnson added this was the reason the CFI organisation “have to keep going” adding “that’s why we’ve got to keep the fight up.”
Over 200 parliamentarians attended Monday’s event, including Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid.
Jewish News has contacted the Labour leader’s office for comment on the PM’s claims.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
