Allegations of anti-Semitism are damaging to Labour, but not toxic

Ephraim Mirvis, the Chief Rabbi, was right to take the unprecedented action of denouncing Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour for endemic anti-Jewish prejudice. James Cleverly, the Conservative chairman, was right to draw attention to polls showing half of British Jews are contemplating emigration if Labour wins. The Jewish Chronicle was right to turn its cover into an unprecedented open letter, begging Britain’s non-Jews not to vote for Corbyn. But if support for Labour does not collapse as a result of all this condemnation, don’t be surprised.

In fact, Labour is doing rather well. Before the Commons voted to hold an election, Labour averaged 23 per cent support in the polls. Now, it’s nearly 31 per cent, as Remainers flock to the party that is being branded an anti-Semitic mob. Why should this be? The reason is simple: public awareness of Labour anti-Semitism will not swing very many votes. The Chief Rabbi may be right that ‘the soul of our nation is at stake’ in this election, but voters cannot agree on what the nation is and where its soul lies.