London (Parliament News) – London Mayor Sadiq Khan apologizes to Chief Rabbi after remarks implying criticism stemmed from being Muslim. Khan expresses regret for any discomfort caused and pledges to continue fostering unity in London’s diverse communities.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been compelled to apologise to the Chief Rabbi after appearing to indicate that his criticism of the mayor’s call for an instantaneous Gaza ceasefire was inspired by his being Muslim.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis had stated on October 31, that after satisfying Mr Khan, he had described to the mayor that “a ceasefire now would be an unreliable stepping stone to yet more Hamas terrorist brutality”.
How Did Sadiq Khan Address Criticism from Jewish Leaders?
In a YouTube discussion this week with the broadcaster Mehdi Hasan, Mr Khan stated he was “disappointed” by the criticism grounded at him by “Jewish leaders and Jewish friends”.
He pointed out that Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham called for a ceasefire very shortly after him, but indicated that he did not receive similar objection from the Chief Rabbi or the Jewish Chronicle newspaper.Â
“He has, along with other Jewish leaders, been dear to me, and we have worked hard together to connect our city and celebrate our diversity. At times it is clear to me, and others, that as a mayor of London of Islamic faith, I am held to a separate standard and that can be frustrating – especially during a divisive election campaign. But, it wasn’t fair of me to have dropped that frustration at the Chief Rabbi. I am sorry for any discomfort this has caused and will continue working with Jewish leaders to build a safer London for everyone.”
What Did Greg Hands Say About Khan’s Remarks?
London minister Greg Hands, MP for Chelsea and Fulham, slammed Mr Khan’s original remarks as “misguided and offensive”. He stated: “I welcome Sadiq Khan’s apology. But his original comment was misguided and offensive. Part of the role of the Mayor of London should be to calm community tensions not to be inflammatory.”
What Was Tory Mayoral Candidate Susan Hall’s Response?
Tory mayoral candidate Susan Hall stated: “It’s important we continue to bring communities in our great city together.”
The debate came just days before the May 2 polling day for the London mayoral election. The latest poll, by Savanta for the Mile End Institute at Queen Mary University of London, positioned Mr Khan ahead of Tory Susan Hall by 13 points. The void between the Labour mayor and Conservative candidate seems to have closed since the beginning of the mayoral race, though the polls use different methodologies.
Tension over this year’s result has been exacerbated by the switch to the first-past-the-post voting system and the requirement for photo ID to be able to vote.