Tory councillors guilty of 'negative' election campaign in Hertsmere

Dr Dan Ozarow said he felt "terrorised" after he was subjected to racist abuse and death threats during the run-up to a by-election in Borehamwood in February 2020.

Cllr Ozarow, who is Jewish and supported former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, says he was told to "go to the gas chambers", labelled a "Jew c***", but also a "Nazi", and told that he "lacked a Jewish soul".

He says the abuse was caused by Tory councillors sharing a 2015 article from the Jewish Chronicle in Facebook community groups. The article was about a letter signed by Cllr Ozarow appearing to defend Mr Corbyn against claims of antisemitism.

Cllr Ozarow claimed he "never saw the final text" of the letter, signed by other "anti-Israel" activists, which argued Mr Corbyn had "nothing to apologise for" in his meetings with representatives of terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

The Hertsmere Labour party reported the Conservatives to the police for "inciting racial hatred", which was dismissed, but an investigation by the Conservative Party Central Office has found five members - four of whom are Jewish themselves, guilty of negative campaigning.

The four serving Conservative councillors in Hertsmere who have been reprimanded following a party investigation. Pictured clockwise, starting from top left is: leader Morris Bright, Brett Rosehill, Paul Morris, and Glenn Briski. Credit: Hertsmere Borough Council

A panel led by independent QC Richard Price found councillors Brett Rosehill - who won the by-election - Glenn Briski and Paul Morris were "party to a personal campaign against the claimant in relation to the 2020 by-election, and which continued for many months" and also concluded "negative campaigning may well have encouraged others to send antisemitic posts or messages to the complainant".

It found Cllr Rosehill delivered leaflets that Labour say implied Cllr Ozarow supported terrorist organisations.

A billboard owned by Cllr Morris at Elstree & Borehamwood station featured a mocked up headline in a fictitious newspaper called Hertsmere Times that insinuated Cllr Ozarow supported Hezbollah.

Cllr Briski was rapped for comments he made on Facebook while Hertsmere Borough Council leader Morris Bright was reprimanded because the panel found he should have "taken steps to rein in the activities of these councillors at an early stage". The same judgment was reached about former councillor and Hertsmere election agent, Jane West.

All five have received formal reprimands from Conservative co-party chairman Ben Elliot and ordered to attend training seminars.

They are all appealing the decision, which was reached in December.

A complaint against Tory councillor Anthony Spencer was dropped, while Elstree & Borehamwood town councillor Sandra Parnell had already apologised and made an out-of-court settlement after writing on social media Cllr Ozarow was "the worst Antisemite".

Cllr Dan Ozarow, pictured left, after winning a seat in Kenilworth ward in Borehamwood during the 2021 local elections in Hertsmere (Image: Newsquest)

Following the outcome, Cllr Ozarow, who was elected in 2021 after losing in 2020 on lots, said: "After this two-year investigation, I am delighted that the terror that my family and I went through is finally over and that the Conservative Party has reached this verdict.

"I would like to thank all those who have showed me solidarity, including the Borehamwood community who overwhelmingly rejected the politics of hate and division at the ballot box last year when they elected me to serve them in a landslide vote."

The Hertsmere Conservatives said: "We are deeply concerned to note that Hertsmere Labour Party have decided to publish the findings of an investigation while the process of appeal by those named is still continuing.

"The named individuals, four out of five of whom are proud members of the Jewish Community are hurt and dismayed, over what are clearly politically motivated claims of antisemitism from Labour."