U.K. Jewish Conservative Told to ‘Go Back to Auschwitz’ by Protesters at Party Conference

Chair of local Conservative group tells local Jewish press that he was subjected to to ‘vile’ anti-Semitic abuse.

Ha’aretz

A Jewish member of the U.K. Conservative party claims he was subjected to “vile” anti-Semitic abuse from protesters at the party’s annual conference.

According to local media, Stephen Woods, chairman of the Sale East and Wythenshawe Association, left the venue with a group of Jewish friends wearing kippot (skullcaps). Left-wing protesters who had gathered outside the event shouted, “Jewish Tory scum, get back to Auschwitz” at the group.

“The abuse we had to endure was despicable,” Woods told the Jewish Chronicle. “I have never heard such vile language. The whole incident left us shaken up.”

This year’s Conservative party conference, held over three days in the city of Manchester, has been met with protesters angry at the government’s austerity agenda. Jeremy Corbyn, the recently elected left-wing Labour party leader, spoke at the protests.

British media reported that a small group of the demonstrators have pelted conference attendees with eggs, called them “scum” and spat at journalists.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police told the Jewish Chronicle that it had not received any reports in connection to the incident. “GMP will not stand for any incidents of antisemitism and officers policing the conference were given clear direction to take action against any individual who goes beyond peaceful protest into unlawful actions,” he said.

The conference ended on Wednesday following a speech by Prime Minister David Cameron, in which he labelled Corbyn a “terrorist sympathizer.”