JLC, Board and LJF praise widespread turnout for Jewish community hustings

The Jewish Leadership Council, Board of Deputies and the London Jewish Forum have commended the series of Jewish community general election hustings as “a key component of democracy”, with close to 2,500 people attending more than two-dozen events held around the country.

Hustings were held across London, Brighton, Essex, Hertfordshire, Glasgow, Leeds and Manchester. They were organised by local Synagogues, communities and Jewish Representative Councils – including the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region, the Leeds Jewish Rep Council, Hertfordshire Jewish Forum, the Sussex Jewish Rep Council and the Scottish Council for Jewish Communities (SCoJeC) and the Glasgow Jewish Rep Council. The Board, JLC and LJF provided support wherever needed, and helped amplify the hustings events to a wider audience.

In a joint statement by the three organisations, representatives said: “Hustings provide a vital platform for communities to engage directly with their local candidates and to question them on crucial issues. Over the past few weeks, around 2,500 people attended more than two dozen hustings events organised by Jewish communities, rep councils and Synagogues nationwide. Topics covered ranged from areas of general concern - Healthcare, Education, Transport and Housing - to issues with particular resonance to the Jewish community such as antisemitism and Israel.

“Such events are a key component of democracy; the Jewish community does not take the right to vote for granted. We thank the candidates who set out their vision for the constituencies they hope to serve, and the attendees who came to listen, ask questions, and participate in this essential part of the election process.”