‘I want Jewish people to feel welcome in Brighton’, council leader says

Brighton and Hove City Council leader has urged anyone worried about Jew-hate in the seaside resort ahead of Labour conference to get in touch.

Labour’s annual conference will take place in Brighton next month, with fringe events planned featuring controversial anti-Zionist activists, including former London mayor Ken Livingstone and ex Momentum vice-chair Jackie Walker.

Labour Cllr Nancy Platts revealed she had urged the party to circulate educational material on antisemitism to members, delegates and fringe organisers ahead of the conference.

She told JN: “The Jewish community should be assured of my full support. Antisemitism has no place in our Party. Hatred towards Jewish people has no place in our society.

” I am concerned to hear that there may be any events in or around Labour Party Conference where Jewish people would not feel welcome.

“If people are worried about any events, they can get in touch with me or the national Labour Party.  I want Jewish people to feel welcome in Brighton at all times, including during Labour Party Conference. “

This comes after Jewish News reported last week on local concerns about the content of fringe events planned for Labour conference.

Mark Gardner, communications director of the CST, told JN  that it had been “planning for weeks as to what can best be done to support our Brighton CST team, the local community and police in order to ensure that communal life continues as normal during the Labour conference period”.

Gardner highlighted concerns about “the fringe events and the far left activists they attract, many of whom treat mainstream British Jews with suspicion and hostility due to the current controversy surrounding Labour and antisemitism.”

You can contact Cllr Nancy Platts on nancy.platts@brighton-hove.gov.uk.