Prestwich: Tory Party Chair visits Israeli hostage families

Richard Holden MP was invited to the Federation of Jewish Services in Prestwich, known locally as The Fed, by Bury South Conservative candidate, rabbi Cllr Arnold Saunders, on Thursday. 

The Fed, based at Heathlands Village, offers advice, support, and care services for people of all ages living from the Jewish community in Greater Manchester.

Richard Holden MP visited the Fed with Bury South candidate Arnold Saunders (Image: Conservative Party)

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During the visit, Mr Holden, and Cllr Saunders, along with Bury Conservative group leader, Russell Bernstein, met residents who live at the centre as well as mums from the mum and toddler group, who also have their meetings there.

Later that day, Mr Holden, who is also the MP for North West Durham, visited East Lancashire Railway to support its bid to the Community Ownership Fund for a grant towards replacing the roof of its 170-year-old locomotive shed. 

As well as supporting Cllr Saunders, the visit to The Fed saw the party chairman explain to residents how the government is helping Jewish communities across the country after a spate of anti-Semitic attacks.

Richard Holden visited The Fed to show his support for Jewish Communities in the North West (Image: Conservative Party)

Cllr Saunders currently represents Kersal and Broughton Park on Salford City Council and will stand for the Conservatives at the next general election.

Mr Holden said: “It was a pleasure to spend some time at The Fed with Cllr and Bury South Candidate Arnie Saunders, who was not only the rabbi there but also the first Jewish chaplain to the British military.

"It is a fantastic place and after meeting staff and residents, I know just how much the centre means to the Jewish community in Bury.

“It was also an honour and very moving to be able to speak to some of the families of those who were killed and kidnapped by Hamas.

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Richard Holden MP visited The Fed as part of his visit to Bury, which also included ELR (Image: Conservative Party)

"All our Jewish communities deserve to feel safe in Britain and I’m glad to see the extra government funding for community safety for the Jewish community after the recent surge in anti-Semitism.

“Arnie is proper local born and bred and an excellent candidate for Bury South - a place that deserves someone steadfast who’ll be a loyal fighter for local people, and who has always put serving his whole community and our country first.”

Thanking the team at The Fed, Cllr Saunders added: “It was great campaigning today with the party chairman and I would like to thank him for his support.

Richard Holden speaks with representatives at The Fed, Prestwich (Image: Conservative Party)

“I would also like to thank Mark Cunningham and his fantastic team at The Fed at Heathlands Village for showing us around the wonderful facilities they provide to the local community.”

Cllr Bernstein also thanked the chairman for his support, adding that many in the region will benefit from the Autumn Statement.

He said: "It was good to spend some quality time with the party chairman this morning discussing how we can spread the positive news coming from the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget, in particular the government’s commitment to the triple lock which will see pensions increase by 8.5 per cent in April next year.”