Black Jew Takes on Former London Mayor
by Joshua Freedman
A UK Labour Party politician who lost her seat in Parliament after a campaign by controversial opponent George Galloway is taking up arms against another public figure widely disliked among the British Jewish community. Oona King, who was the Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Bow in east London until Galloway defeated her in the 2005 General Election, is running to be the Labour candidate for mayor of London in 2012. King, who has a Jewish mother and a black father, will be opposed by former mayor Ken Livingstone, known for comparing a Jewish news reporter to a concentration camp guard. King, who received anti-Semitic abuse and was pelted with eggs during her election campaign five years ago, said she would be the communal unity candidate, telling the London Jewish Chronicle: “People understand that a capital city with a vibrant culture and diversity would benefit from a mayor who reflects that.”