Wake up, Adrian – you’ve won a town hall election in your sleep
London Jewish Forum founder Adrian Cohen did no campaigning and only agreed to stand just to "help the party out".
Leading communal figure Adrian Cohen has revealed he was woken in the middle of the night to be told he had unexpectedly won a seat for Labour in the Conservative stronghold of Hampstead Town.
The London Jewish Forum founder said he had agreed to stand for Labour in the ward, which had always previously been Tory, just to “help the party out”.
Cohen, a banking and finance expert, admitted he had done “no campaigning” ahead of last Thursday’s local election, and had gone to sleep believing the seat would remain in the hands of the Tories.
But in a clear sign of the improved reputation for Labour under current leader Keir Starmer, Cohen got over 1,000 votes, leaving him easily elected in the seat.
Cohen was reportedly woken by party colleagues and told to come down to the Camden council count.
He was loudly cheered as he walked into the building ahead of the shock result being declared.
He told Jewish News:”It was an incredible night and it feels like quite a breakthrough in terms of community relations.
“Although, of course, they remain a work in progress.”
Cohen, who represents Highgate Synagogue on the Board of Deputies, has been connected to Labour for many years and is a vice chair of Labour Friends of Israel.
He is also a member oof the Labour Party Antisemitism Advisory Board, set up as a result of the Equality and Human Rights Commision’s report in 2020.
He said he now wanted to “bring residents’ concerns to the heart of the council because there hasn’t been a Labour councillor to give voice to their particular concerns.”
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
