Tory mayoral election candidate Susan Hall tells Jewish voters ‘I am on your side’
Susan Hall addressed the London Jewish Forum's mayoral candidate breakfast event at JW3
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Conservative mayoral candidate Susan Hall has told a communal event that she is on the “side” of the Jewish community, many of whom currently “do not only feel ignored, but also feel unsafe” in London.
Speaking at the London Jewish Forum’s mayoral election breakfast event on Monday, Hall also suggested the Metropolitan Police “need to get a grip on antisemitism” adding “Jewish Londoners have a right to feel safe in their city.”
The Tory candidate, who is aiming to prevent Sadiq Khan from becoming London mayor for a third time in May, briefly spoke to the audience at JW3 in north west London about her ambitions if she was elected into power at City Hall.
She said:”I know that many of you in Jewish community do not only feel ignored, but also feel unsafe.
“I want to give you my assurance that I am on your side and I will do all I can to listen and to stop antisemitism.”
Referencing the situation in Gaza, Hall said she supported “temporary humanitarian pauses to allow aid to get in” but she said the “main focus” should be on ensuring the hostages captured by Hamas “get back to their families.”
Referencing the rise in antisemitism in London, and issues for some of those attending the pro-Palestinian marches, the Harrow councillor said:”I am clear, and I will be clear with Mark Rowley, the police commissioner, that “the police need to get a grip on antisemtism. Jewish Londoners have right to feel safe in their city.”
Hall said she was also aware of concerns over the pro-Palestine demos in the capital saying that after speaking with home secretary James Cleverly she was “delighted that the government is putting in stricter controls and ensuring the police have the power to stop hateful, dangerous and intimidating behaviour.”
Answering questions from the floor, Hall denied that she was placing too much blame on the police for rising antisemitism.
She told Jewish News: “What I meant was that when police see it, they must deal with it. If people behave in a way that is intimidating our Jewish community then the police should deal with it.”
Hall said a “lot of the recent issues” around antisemitism had been “cause or exacerbated by the war and situation in Israel and Gaza.”
She added:”That has made things worse.”
Pressed on the fact that there is no law that allows police to arrest people using a chant such as “From The River To The Sea”, unless it is used directly outside a synagogue, Hall said “if they’re allowed to do it, they’ll do it again and again.”
Later she said she knew “about things to do with the Jewish religion” because of friends she had in the community.
Hall added:”I am completely tolerant of all different communities.”
The Green, Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates are taking part in their own LJF events, which are partnered by Jewish News, and also backed by the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council.
Sixth-form politics students from JFS were also among the audience on Monday.
Other questions focused on Hall’s policies on transport, on environmental issues and helping students afford to live in the capital.
The mayoral election takes place on May 2nd.
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