• I WAS appalled to read Cllr Phil Rosenberg’s views on anti-Semitism and the Hampstead & Kilburn Labour Party (published in Jewish News Online). Appalled but not surprised!

Labour has developed a strong but toxic anti-Semitic brand. For two years running UK Labour has been recognised as one of the top 10 global anti-Semitic organisations by the Simon Wiesenthal list (sharing this dubious honour in 2017 with the Charlottesville haters).

It has been suggested that Ken Livingstone (suspended for two years) will be welcomed back to the fold. Labour Facebook and Twitter accounts are peppered with anti-Semitic comments. Comments that chill to the bone (including boycotting Jewish businesses, telling Jewish councillors to “go and count your money” etc).

Labour’s problem is not just anti-Semitism but also its failure to acknowledge the issue and deal with it effectively. The Chakrabarti report appears to have been whitewash.

As a former Labour voter, I expected more from Labour. I expected Labour to be a party where this sort of behaviour was unacceptable.

I realise that this was naive. There are more similarities between the hard right and hard left than either would acknowledge.

A heartfelt thank you to Cllr Rosenberg for speaking out and for his tireless pursuit of anti-Semitism. His experience is not isolated and he is voicing the concerns of others who feel silenced.

PENNY DAVIS
NW3