At it again: Ken says ‘richer’ London Jews vote Tory

As the Jewish community got richer, it voted for Mrs Thatcher, according to former London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who this week repeated claims that Jews are more likely to vote Tory.

Appearing on BBC’s Newsnight on Monday, Red Ken revisited old ground, claiming that Jews were now “richer” and that their voting patterns had changed as a result.

“Fifty years ago the Roman Catholic community, the Irish community, the Jewish community, were solidly Labour. As the Jewish community got richer, it moved over to voting for Mrs Thatcher in Finchley.”

“He last made comments to this effect during the Mayoral election,” said Adrian Cohen of London Jewish Form. “Politicians shouldn’t write off parts of the electorate based on crude assumptions about their perceived affluence. Many Jews are not rich – indeed many struggle to make ends meet.”