Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl has condemned Unite Union leader Len McCluskey for comments he made on Newsnight that senior Labour Party figure Peter Mandelson should go into a room and “count his gold”.
Marie said “We are deeply concerned that the leader of one of the most powerful Trade Unions in this country would go on television and use an antisemitic trope dating back to medieval times. Whilst noting that Mr McCluskey has now apologised, this serves to demonstrate just how deeply the language of antisemitism has become rooted among those who would no doubt describe themselves as being proudly anti-racist.”