Chuka Umunna, Robert Jenrick and Naz Shah to feature at JW3 election hustings

Jewish voters will have the chance to quiz leading figures from the country’s main political parties next week in the community’s only national hustings of the General Election campaign.

The Conservative’s Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick will be joined by Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Chuka Umunna and Labour shadow equalities minister Naz Shah.

The event, next Wednesday evening, is being organised by Jewish News together with the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC), Board of Deputies and JW3.

It will be chaired by Skys News’ Tamara Cohen, who will invite questions on a variety of domestic and international issues.

Get tickets here: www.jw3.org.uk/hustings

The event come as Jeremy Corbyn and his party continue to be dogged by the antisemitism scandal, following unprecedented condemnation from the Chief Rabbi and the leader’s failure to apologise to British Jews in a BBC interview.

The hustings have been in the planning for more than two weeks, but Labour only confirmed Shah’s attendance as Jewish News was going to press after repeated failed attempts were made by this newspaper to invite a member of Corbyn’s shadow cabinet. Shah has herself been praised for her efforts to better understand antisemitism and get to know the community after she was suspended over antisemitism three years ago.

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Jenrick said: “I’m very much looking forward to taking part in the hustings next week and setting out the Conservative Party’s strong support for the Jewish community in this country. Boris Johnson will continue to champion your cause and we will fight antisemitism wherever we see it.”

Shah said: “I’m grateful to have this opportunity to address members of the Jewish community at this difficult time.”

Gillian Merron of the Board of Deputies, said: “We hope that members of the community will join the Board of Deputies, the JLC and Jewish News at this important event.” A JLC spokesperson said: “This is a vital opportunity for members of the community to challenge the main political parties on issues which affect them.”

JW3’s chief executive Raymond Simonson said: “It’s important for JW3 to give everyone the chance to quiz leading politicians from all three parties ahead of election day.”

• The event kicks off at 7.30pm and tickets can be booked on a first come first served basis at www.jw3.org.uk/hustings