Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Haringey Politician out of Election after Antisemitic Remark Directed at Harringay Councillor
A Haringey Councillor has pulled out of the general election as a Labour parliamentary candidate in a row over an alleged antisemitic comment.
Gideon Bull stood down as the party’s candidate in Clacton following an accusation that he used the term “Shylock” to cabinet colleague and Harringay councillor, Zena Brabazon.
But Mr Bull denied that the comment was directed at Councillor Brabazon, deputy leader of Haringey Council.
And he said he was not aware that the word was offensive or that Shylock – the money-lender villain of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice and one of the most famous Jewish characters in English literature – was Jewish.
In a statement announcing his withdrawal from the race for the 12 December election, Mr Bull insisted it was “entirely false” to suggest that he directed the comment at Ms Brabazon.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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Alan: I think you are mistaken about Shylock's motivation. He hates Antonio, first because he
( Antonio ) is a Christian who has frequently abused and insulted Shylock, and secondly because A has been making interest-free loans, thus undercutting Shylock's money-lending business. He knows that his money will never be returned.
The pound of flesh bond is simply a trap to bring about Antonio's death.
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Permalink Reply by vaneska on
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John D - could you please point out where Alan wrote about Shylock's motivation, because I don't see it?
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" In the play, of course, the central character of a Jewish moneylender who wants his money returned.) "
He doesn't want his money returned: he wants Antonio to forfeit his bond..
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Thanks, John D, for sending me back to the play.
Is he an uncaring insensitive villain? Or a victim, shaped by his upbringing and circumstances?
As you possibly guess, I skated round and left out the phrase "pound of flesh".
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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I think in the context of what happened, the motivation of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice is irrelevant, it’s how the term is used in common parlance that matters. Is some one accuses me of being Machiavellian I doubt I’d go back to read The Prince for the original context.
I have met Gideon Bull on a number of occasions and nothing in those encounters would lead me to believe that he is anti Semitic. In fact I would imagine he would challenge anti Semitism whenever it occurred. I think he made a genuine mistake on this occasion, but language does matter.
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FFS. This is riduclous. People are looking for anti semitism where ever they can find it in order to attack their political enemies. The man was probably not even thinking of the Jewish aspect when likening someone else to a character from Shakesepeare.
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Permalink Reply by Simon on
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Whether or not the person who this comment was allegedly directed at found it offensive or not is not the only factor here. The remark was made by an elected Councillor and in a public place and reached a much wider audience. It was in my view offensive reinforcing an offensive racial stereotype. Given the fact that Cllr Bull withdrew suggests he recognised (eventually) that others we’re also offended. Although councillors are lay people they still have a duty to act responsibly and think before they speak - as voters we have a right to expect this.
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