Local elections 2018: ‘NEVER AGAIN’ vow Labour as anti-Semitism row sparks Barnet BACKLASH
LABOUR council candidates humbled by a shock local elections defeat in Barnet said the shameful anti-Semitism row engulfing the party had impacted the result.
Labour failed to snatch Barnet, a vulnerable Tory council, and a red landslide outside London also failed to materialise.
While Labour do boast the most council seats across the country, they gained just one council - despite hopes for a huge haul.
The failure to seize Barnet hurt Labour more than anything, with humbled candidates in the London borough blaming the anti-Semitism row which has rocked the party.
Labour’s Barnet leader Barry Rawlings admitted the row had “made a difference”, particularly given he area’s Jewish population.
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He said: “I must say that in some wards where there is a large Jewish community, it has made a difference, I'm not sure yet how much.
“Of course the Tories did go hard in those areas on that issue, saying that if you vote Labour you're voting for Jeremy Corbyn.
“But to be honest most of the conversations have been about potholes rather than anti-Semitism.
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“That said, we want people to know it is an issue we take very seriously in the Labour party.”
And council candidate Adam Langleben said Labour must “never” run a local election in the same way again.
He tweeted: “Thanks to all those who voted for myself, Humayune and Agnes today. It was the greatest honour of my life to serve West Hendon.
“We must NEVER have another election like this.
"No community group should have their vote dictated by their safety.
"That should shame us at Labour.”