When was the last time you heard a politician open their heart to make a full, frank and honest apology?
No, not one of those “I’m sorry if anyone took offence…” non-apology apologies, but a proper explanation of where they went wrong, why, and what they are going to do about it.
Not for some time I would suggest. So full credit to Naz Shah, whose repentance and bravery should be acknowledged.
Her charge-sheet was a substantial one and would have been terminal for most people in the public eye. Social media posts that came to light in April showed Ms Shah had, before her election as a Labour MP, tweeted a series of offensive comments about Jews and Israel.
.@CST_UK's Mark Gardner says he's met @NazShahBfd and found her attitude to learn about antisemitism "exemplary",looks forward to her return
— Marcus Dysch (@MarcusDysch) July 14, 2016
She had backed a plan to transport Israelis out of the Middle East to the United States. Another post linked to a blog claiming Jews had been “groomed” to “exert political influence at the highest levels of public office”.
On Facebook she shared a poll asking whether Israel had committed war crimes in Gaza. “The Jews are rallying to the poll,” she told friends. Months later she likened Israeli policies to those of Hitler.
It was hardline stuff, full of the tropes and Nazi comparisons which we usually associate with extremists on the fringes of society, not British MPs.
It may seem extraordinary that Ms Shah rose to her prominent role while displaying such a level of naivety about Jews. But not everyone has benefited from an education on the nuances of Jew-hate.
Ms Shah, 42, was pulled out of school aged 12, sent to Pakistan aged 15 and forced into an arranged marriage. Her time in the country – during her formative years – is unlikely to have included lessons on antisemitic discourse and themes relating to money, power and puppet masters.
Genuine contrition is hard to come by among politicians, who turn themselves inside out attempting to avoid tough questions when they are being held to account.
But not in Ms Shah’s case. “What I did was antisemitic,” she told the BBC. “It was ignorant. It was wrong. One of the tough conversations I had to have with myself was, ‘am I antisemitic?’. I had to question my heart of hearts. No, I do not have a hatred of Jewish people.”
That must have taken some guts. While some have responded with cynicism to her apology – claiming she is a “moron” who should be sacked – mainstream British Jews should now help her in her rehabilitation.
Many already have. Ms Shah is working with mainstream Jewish groups who specialise in educating people about antisemitism.
In doing so she is setting an excellent example, especially to parts of the Muslim community where the views she previously espoused are often prevalent.
A hefty slice of Ms Shah’s redemption – and the goodwill I hope will greet it – comes in that willingness to use her own experience to help educate others.
An admission of a series of acts of blatant Jew-hate would end the career of most MPs. But Ms Shah comes out of this scandal far stronger, both as a politician and a person, and deserves our support.
Marcus Dysch is an editor and political writer at the Jewish Chronicle
