The Bookmarks Bookshop in Bloomsbury which was targeted by a far-right group

• RECENT months have witnessed several very worrying political developments on the right of British politics.

We have seen the largest street demonstrations by far-right forces in Britain since the 1930s under the slogan “Free Tommy Robinson”. These well-funded protests have featured far-right politicians from the Continent as well as American white supremacists.

UKIP, which up to now has presented itself as a parliamentary movement, has openly supported these menacing street protests. The confidence of the far right also expressed itself in the attack on Bookmarks Bookshop in Bloomsbury, carried out in broad daylight.

Across Europe populist right wing movements are growing in strength and influence, especially in Poland and Hungary, where Islamophobia, antisemitism, and prejudice against Roma and refugees are all riding in tandem.

The threat from far right forces is felt too in Czech Republic, Austria and Germany. Antisemitic attacks in Germany perpetrated by the far right have risen significantly in 2018.

Here in London, the crude Islamophobia that Boris Johnson has expressed in the last few days has already resulted in abuse, harassment and attacks on Muslim women.

As local Jewish members of the Labour Party we extend our solidarity to all other minority groups experiencing racism. We know that the security of our own community is tied to the security of all minorities threatened by racists.

We believe that racism can be beaten through that solidarity and with the support of our friends and neighbours. We are therefore extremely concerned at how little attention those organisations who claim to lead and represent the Jewish community are showing towards these dangerous developments on the right.

Instead they seem to be putting all their energy into attacking Jeremy Corbyn over the separate issue of Israel and Palestine. In doing so they do not speak for us.

We know Jeremy from our campaigning work alongside him, as a consistent fighter for the human rights of all and a determined opponent of all racism. We stand by him and we know he stands by us.

SIGNATORIES:
RICHARD KUPER, DAVID ROSENBERG, RUTH APPLETON, JULIA BARD, MICHAEL ELLMAN, ANDREW FEINSTEIN, LOUISA KAPLIN, CLLR SUE LUKES, ELI MACHOVER, SIMON MOHUN, MICA NAVA, JENNY RICHARDSON, DAVID ROSENBERG, LYNNE SEGAL. ALEXANDRA STEIN, ANNETTE THOMAS, GILL YUDKIN, JOHN YUDKIN, PAM ZINKIN