• MUCH has been written lately in both the national and local press and social media about unspecified, and therefore probably false, allegations of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party.

This distracts from and obscures the very real and horrifying act of anti-Semitism last Sunday week when swastikas were daubed all over a bus shelter by Gladstone Park in the neighbouring borough of Brent.

Residents were very quick to erase them and held an impromptu vigil of protest. Note that a Labour councillor and local Labour Party members were there too. Where were the Conservatives?

They are now trying to discover the perpetrators of this foul act which bears the hallmark of some extreme right-wing group. This is a hate crime and should be treated as such.

Sadly it will not be the last, as we see right-wing groups and governments on the rise across Europe. Faced with such a threat it is surely absolutely vital that all false allegations of anti-Semitism should be withdrawn and no more similar accusations should be made without concrete evidence.

KATHARINE BLIGH
Address supplied