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Rupa Huq Wades in Anti-Semitism Row

The local MP for many people on this board gave a terrible interview this morning on the Today programme.She clearly has forgotten the phrase 'when you are in a hole stop digging'http://order-order.com/2016/04/28/rupa-huq-defends-naz-shahs-anti-semitism/There was kind of a point to what she was saying but it was undermined by her ridiculous arguments.

Paul Cavanagh ● 3625d16 Comments

She was apparently being naive. Do we really want naive politicians running the country?

Paul Hemsley ● 3618d

She was apparently being naive. Do we really want naive politicians running the country?

Paul Hemsley ● 3618d

The planned interview if anything is more silly than the train talk.  She cannot manage her hesitations -- at one point unable to articulate the word "Israeli" or "Jew" when talking about Israel, seemingly because she is fearful of putting her foot in her mouth. The silence seemed pregnant. And then finally getting to the point that the Labour party "has a long history of" Jewish socialist activism, then at that moment clearly struggling for words to the extent that the interviewer himself manages to slot in "antisemitism".  And the final reference to Corbyn just made him sound like a twit -- but, inadvertently on her part.  Remember this is when she is prepared for an interview! You can only be a rookie for so long before it's recognised that you actually simply lack judgment.

Plum Buddle ● 3618d

Can't understand the enthusiasm so many Labour politicians have for Russia Today but the points she makes in the interview with Sam Delaney and with this site seem to me fair enough.I can't find much that she has said in the past on Middle East issues but there are some indications that she has in the past endorsed the Fairness for Israel campaign as well as having visited Palestine. It looks like that historically she has had a balanced view of this issue and is not simply adopting one because of the spotlight being on the Labour party's problem with anti-Semitism.She has clearly been naive and this will be a lesson learned for a first term MP.

Paul Cavanagh ● 3620d

I see Rupa Huq had a chance to properly reply..https://twitter.com/newsthingrt/status/726108507716603904

Alan Anderson ● 3620d

Very sensible of Rupa Huq to explain further her comments which, as I said at the time, where probably a result of her being caught on the hop at a train station.I don't think the Labour party is anti-Semitic but lots of people who are members clearly sound as if they are. This happens because on certain sections of the left it is an article of faith that everything bad that happens in the world happens because of America. As Israel is an ally of the US they are also a force for evil. The result is that the complex and nuanced situation in the Middle East is reduced to a 'good guy/bad guy' scenario in which bad Jews oppress powerless Muslims. Most of the young people who talk about 'zios' and the Jewish lobby don't have enough sense of history to realise how dreadful they sound but any racism is usually unintentional. The less encouragement they get from senior party figures the better which is why Rupa Huq has done the right thing and Ken Livingstone has become a liability.

Andy Jones ● 3621d

I am guided in what I say by a Jewish friend and colleague but don't really want to get involved in an argument about semantics.That said there does need to be some clarity on what exactly meant by Zionism in the 21st century. Most objective observers would not suggest that it refers to the mere advocacy of the right of the state of Israel to exist but a more aggressive assertion of land rights which would include the promotion of settlements in occupied territories. I am told most Jews and a large proportion of Israelis are against this. Equating Zionism with the view that Israel has a right to exist is clearly crossing a line.

Paul Cavanagh ● 3622d

Someone on that website you linked to Paul says that, 'The Labour Party has now become nothing more than a political front for Islam & Jihadis!'I'll be keeping a very close eye on my mum in future. Thanks for the heads up!

Alan Anderson ● 3624d

Paul Cavanagh suggestedall Jews by definition will support the existence of Israel.....That simply isn't true. While there are somemilitant anti-zionist Jewshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Jewish_Anti-Zionist_Network Apparently many more, don't actively support Zionism at least.Having made their homes in England, The USA etcthey feel they owe their whole allegiance to their adopted homeland which earlier gave themrefuge. I only happen to know this as I'm currentlyreading Michael Grade's autobiography. Althoughnone of the brothers Lew, Bernard, or Michael'sfather Leslie were strict orthodox, neither they nor their Mother had much sympathy for Zionism for the above reason. And there's no reasonto think they were untypical.michael adams 

Michael Adams ● 3624d

Alan - the audio of the interview is in the link on my original post.In answer to your question all Jews by definition will support the existence of Israel. The do not all support every action of the Israeli Government but it is a long way from there to even tacitly advocating the forced deportation of all Jews from the Middle East.

Paul Cavanagh ● 3624d

Does anyone know what time the interview was so I can hear it on iPlayer?I think the media have made rather a rash leap calling comments on Israel antisemitism. Do all Jews support Israel?

Alan Anderson ● 3624d

When the train isn't late. It's just not here yet.  Hang on, yes, it is late, describe  on the board as delayed. No problem on your watch eh?

Debbie Edwards ● 3624d

She was welcome to say "I'm sorry, but I can't talk now. I'll speak to you when I'm not standing in the middle of a 'West London station'. Just saying.

Howard Davidson ● 3624d

Bearing in mind Shah's constituency I think she should be particularly careful in what she says. Or maybe she's pandering to elements of  her electorate.

Keith Iddon ● 3625d

Agreed it is a car crash interview but I do think there is a good point lurking in there. Rupa Huq took the call in a 'west London station' so chances are she was standing in the middle of Ealing Broadway when cornered.Let's assume she knows Nav Shah and her real personality. If she is personally convinced that the retweeting of this pretty appalling message wasn't done due to anti-antisemitism but out of an emotional response to Palestinian deaths. The apology from Ms Shah is unequivocal and seems to me sincere.Her suspension has put the Labour party in a awkward position because far worse has been done and said by a large number of party members some of whom are quite close to the leadership. The suspension of Ken Livingstone may be the first of many and Labour does need to clean house but Nav Shah and Rupa Huq are more likely to be part of the solution than part of the problem.

Andy Jones ● 3625d

Nothing to suggest Rupa is in any way anti-Semitic but her attempt to explain away a political colleague's behaviour is laughable.'It was before she became an MP'Anyone who puts themselves forward as a candidate to a political party is asked if there is anything in their past that might bring the party into disrepute - for good reason. Comments made before one is in public office might be very revealing of what one really thinks. So when you know Naz Shah wrote 'the Jews are rallying...' before standing for office, you might draw certain conclusions about her fitness to be an MP.

Vlod Barchuk ● 3625d