EXCLUSIVE: UKIP candidate tells Jewish rival: ‘Protect child benefits? You’d send them to Israel’

EXCLUSIVE by Justin Cohen

Community leaders have called on UKIP to take swift action after an “outrageous anti-Semitic slur” targeting MP Luciana Berger was tweeted from the account of one of its parliamentary candidates.

The account of Jack Sen, the candidate for West Lancashire, tweeted to the shadow health minister: “You’re about authentic Labour as Ed Miliband. Protect child benefits? If you had it your way you’d send the £ to Poland/ Israel.”

He then wrote: “”Britain’s youngest Jewish MP, Luciana Berger, is facing criticism over her record of….” loyalties.

Suggestions that Jews’ have dual loyalties between Israel and the country in which they live is an age-old anti-Semitic canard.

Board of deputies President Vivian Wineman said: “This is an outrageous, anti-Semitic slur. We expect UKIP to respond swiftly and decisively and show that there is no room for such racism in their party.”

Berger received hundreds of messages of abuse after Garron Helm was jailed in a landmark case over an anti-Semitic tweet to her.

She told the Jewish News: “This is clearly an anti-Semitic comment. Remarks like these have no place in our politics. I expect UKIP to take action.”

The CST said: “It is pathetic that any parliamentary candidate would stoop so low.”

In the space of just a few minutes last night, the account also targeted Tory Party chairman Grant Shapps, another high-profile Jewish politician. A tweet said: “So many top American politicians have dual loyalties. Sad to see someone so important in the Tory party with a dual allegiance.”