Now Susan Hall claims ‘so many’ Jewish friends in London are leaving UK for Israel
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Now Susan Hall claims ‘so many’ Jewish friends in London are leaving UK for Israel

London Tory mayor candidate refuses to apologise for claiming Jews in London are "frightened" of Sadiq Khan, and also tells the GB News TV channel 'many friends' are now moving to Israel

Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor

Susan Hall on GB News
Susan Hall on GB News

Tory mayoral candidate Susan Hall has refused to back down her claim that some of the Jewish community are “frightened” of “divisive” Sadiq Khan telling the GB News  television channel “so many friends” from the community were leaving the UK to move to Israel.

The former Harrow councillor then went on to make claims that since Khan was elected Mayor of London “attacks have doubled, literally doubled, I think theres’s been over 1,000 or around about 1,000 so far this year… but that’s not good enough.”

When pressed on whether she was referring to physical or verbal attacks, “against Jewish men and women” Hall was unable to clarify, saying only “recorded attacks.”

Asked about her earlier comments that provoked a furious reaction when she spoke at a Conservative Friends of Israel reception at the Tory Party conference in Manchester, Hall told the channel: “I am just going back to policing. The way policing is in London, so many Jewish people do not feel safe. 

“That’s wrong and I will never apologise for defending the Jewish community.

“I have got so many friends that are literally talking about leaving the country because they don’t feel safe. That is unacceptable in London.”

Asked if those friends were Jewish, she added: “Yes. Yes, going to Israel. It shouldn’t be in that state. 

“Since Sadiq Khan has taken over, these sort of attacks have doubled – literally doubled, over 1,000 or around about 1,000 this year… but that’s not good enough.”

Hall continued: “I will look after all different communities.

“[Khan] is in charge of the police he should make sure our streets are safer.”

Khan later told LBC radio he would continue to be “a mayor for all Londoners”.

He added: “What I would say to anybody who aspires to be the mayor of this great city is you should believe diversity brings strength, not weakness. You should believe it makes us stronger, not weaker, richer not poorer.

“I’m somebody who believes quite passionately that we don’t tolerate different communities, we should respect them, celebrate them, and embrace them.

“I say that in the context not just of Black History Month, but it will be Diwali in a few weeks’ time as well and every year I celebrate Hannukah with the Jewish community as well.

“It’s for Susan Hall to explain her remarks, whether it’s a megaphone or a dog whistle. I’m going to carry on being the Mayor for all Londoners.”

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