Finchley and Golders Green MP, Mike Freer, has today condemned the actions of Shadow Minister, Shabana Mahmood, who has encouraged targeted attacks on supermarkets selling Israeli goods.
Filmed outside a Sainsbury’s branch in Birmingham during a protest, Ms Mahmood stated that the “huge response” was “incredible” which forced the store to close early. She went on to laud the “passion” of the protestors who were calling for major supermarkets to boycott Israeli produce.
The Labour Shadow Minister was also filmed at the Rally for Gaza on August 9, calling on protestors to take direct action against supermarkets. She was filmed as saying “We laid down in Sainsbury’s in Birmingham and closed down a store for five-and-a-half hours at peak time on a Saturday. This is how we can make a difference”.
Her comments came before disorder broke out at a Tesco store in Birmingham last week after protestors waving Palestinian flags clashed with police. Staff in a Sainsbury’s Branch in Central London also removed kosher produce from sale amid fears it would be vandalised.
Mike Freer MP, who on the 31 July wrote to all major supermarkets asking them to be vigilant to anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli behaviour in their stores, has today condemned the actions of Shabana Mahmood. He comments “Once again we see the ugly side of Labour and the weakness of Miliband. His unwillingness or inability to rein in a front bench spokesman who is encouraging these sort of targeted attacks speaks volumes. For any Parliamentarian to encourage mob rule as a way of protesting is shameful. Will synagogues and kosher shops be next on her list of targets?”