STATEMENT ON DANY LOUISE AND ANTISEMITISM

From Nick Perry, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate

Dany's well-evidenced account of her experience of the Hastings and Rye Labour Party makes for shocking reading. I am deeply concerned, but not altogether surprised. In September, the Liberal Democrats wrote to the local Labour Party concerning an on-line antisemitic comment made by one of the people mentioned by Dany. We also submitted this comment as evidence to the Equality and Human Rights Commission's on-going enquiry into Labour Party antisemitism.

Jeremy Corbyn has failed to get a grip on his party's problems nationally - the EHRC requires a high evidence threshold before commencing an investigation - and it has become clear from Dany's courageous account that the local Labour leadership is seriously inadequate. Labour's loss of Luciana Berger and Louise Ellman nationally and Dany Louise locally speaks volumes.

I am grateful for Dany's endorsement at this election, but the important thing here is her courage in calling out the local Labour Party. My experience of local politics online, at present, is that it is in a pretty toxic state. Dany will not have chosen to make this intervention lightly. There must be no reprisals against her for bringing this information into the public domain.

When Dany reports that a Hastings resident is nervous about complaining to the council because that resident is Jewish, and the widely respected Jewish Chronicle reports that half of Britain's Jews would consider leaving the UK if Corbyn wins the Election, we have a national problem. This is not a problem for Jews alone, but for all of us who want a diverse, respectful and open society, free from prejudice and discrimination.