Community leaders meet Lib Dems to discuss concerns about David Ward MP

Jewish community leaders have met senior Liberal Democrats to discuss concerns about anti-Israel MP David Ward, who represents the party in Bradford.

Board of Deputies chief executive Gillian Merron, Jewish Leadership Council chief executive Simon Johnson and the Community Security Trust’s Deputy Director of Communications Dave Rich met Chief Whip Don Foster MP and Stephen Williams MP, the spokesperson for Communities.

Ward has continued to make offensive statements about Israel, but party leaders have refused to take action after suspending the controversial MP in 2013 for questioning Israel’s continued existence.

Foster said he had told Ward which statements were offensive or anti-Semitic and that guidelines would be issued for all parliamentary candidates, using the All Party Parliamentary Group on Anti-Semitism’s report for reference.