Tory HQ dismisses appeal by Hertsmere councillors over ‘negative campaigning’ sanction
CCHQ has dismissed an appeal by four Hertsmere councillors and their election agent after they were found guilty of "negative and personal campaigning" that incited antisemitic hatred against a Jewish Labour candidate.
Conservative Party HQ (CCHQ) has dismissed an appeal by four Hertsmere councillors and their election agent who were found guilty of “negative and personal campaigning” that incited antisemitic hatred against a Jewish Labour candidate.
The party’s Individual Member Review Committee agreed that no new evidence had been submitted which could have made a difference to the outcome.
The original April 2022 ruling against the five Tories was made by independent QC Richard Price and approved by then national co-chairman Ben Elliot.
It had investigated a Tory smear campaign that went on for many months against Labour’s Dan Ozarow that took place during a 2020 Borehamwood Kenilworth council by-election in Hertsmere.
It upheld the numerous breaches of the Nolan Principals for Standards in Public Life.
The four appellants – Hertsmere Borough Council’s Leader Morris Bright, eventual by-election winner Councillor Brett Rosehill, Councillor Glenn Briski and then-Hertsmere Conservative Association’s election Agent Jane West – had been reprimanded and sent on training courses by their party for their roles in the campaign.
Ozarow received comments from the public including being was told to “die in the gas chambers” that he was a “Jewish c**t’”and “should be ‘sent to Tehran’ on social media.
A fifth appellant, Councillor Paul Morris quit the Conservative Party last month, complaining that the appeal decision was taking too long.
This annulled his own appeal.
Despite CCHQ stating that the matter was closed, the Board of the Conservative Party, then co-chaired by Oliver Dowden, changed its rules and retrospectively granted an appeal under a new code which was published several weeks after the investigation had been concluded. Dowden then submitted a bundle of papers that provided the basis for their appeal.
Jeremy Newmark, Leader of Hertsmere Labour & Cooperative Group said:”Cllrs Bright, Rosehill, Briski and Morris must now consider their positions. Oliver Dowden should be ashamed of his role in trying to defend them despite the findings of Richard Price KC.
“I’ll be seeking assurances that the sanctions, especially training, have been fully enforced. I know that local people will make up their own minds as to whether or not those who incite hatred should continue to hold public office. ”
Ozarow was recently appointed to the Local Government Associations’ steering group on the prevention of abuse of local councillors.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
