Ken Livingstone: Rich London Jews Won't Vote Labour
London mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone believes Jewish people will not vote for Labour because they are rich, according to a letter sent to Ed Miliband.
The letter, which has been seen by the Jewish Chronicle, was written by prominent Labour-supporting Jewish Londoners to party leader Miliband expressing their concerns about Livingstone.
The letter was written after a private meeting held on March 1 where Jewish Labour supporters tried to discuss how Livingstone could re-connect with Jewish voters before the May 3 mayoral election.
The letter explains that: "Ken towards the end of the meeting stated that he did not expect the Jewish community to vote Labour as votes for the left are inversely proportional to wealth levels, and suggested that as the Jewish community is rich we simply wouldn't vote for him."
The letter was written by several Jewish Labour figures, including leading Liberal Rabbi Danny Rich and former Limmud chair Andrew Gilber. It explains to Miliband that Jewish Labour supporters were finding it "harder and harder to consider voting for Ken".
The letter adds: "In the same way that Black, Irish, Women and LGBT groups are afforded the right to determine their own identity, many of us feel that Ken doesn't afford Jews that right."
During the meeting Livingstone also defended embracing radical Islamic cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi, saying he would gladly embrace anyone who had been the victim of an apparent smear campaign from the Murdoch empire.
The meeting was originally staged under Chatham House rules - where what is said can be repeated can be said but not attributed to who said it. The letter states that Livingstone made it clear he was happy anything he said be attributed.
The letter was written ahead of a meeting between the Jewish communal leadership and Ed Miliband later this month, when the issue of Mr Livingstone will be top of the agenda.
Miliband has before revealed he is a son of a Belgium Jewish refuge .
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