A Hertsmere Borough Council meeting descended into chaos last week after Council Leader Cllr Jeremy Newmark (Lab), accused Cllr Abhishek Sachdev of using an “anti-Semitic trope” in his speech.
Cllr Sachdev, a Conservative representative and finance expert, has served on the council since 2014, becoming its first British Hindu councillor. He previously chaired the Audit Committee, oversaw council accounts, and later held the role of Finance Portfolio Holder. Following the Conservative Party's election loss, he took on the role of opposition finance spokesperson, scrutinising the council’s budget.
During the heated exchange, Conservative Group Leader Cllr Morris Bright, condemned Cllr Newmark’s remarks, calling him a “disgrace” for making the accusation against Cllr Sachdev.
Cllr Abhishek told Asian Voice that, “During a recent Council meeting, I delivered my budget response, directing my criticisms at the Council leader, Jeremy Newmark, as he is widely recognised as the driving force behind major decisions. My speech was well received, but when Newmark later spoke, he accused me of using an "anti-Semitic trope"—a shocking and baseless claim. If he had genuinely believed my remarks were offensive, he would have objected immediately, but he waited until his speech to raise the issue.”
“His accusation sparked outrage across the chamber. Several Labour and Liberal Democrat Councillors, including a Jewish Labour member, walked out in protest, calling out the weaponisation of anti-Semitism. My Conservative colleagues also walked out. Cllr Newmark repeated his accusation twice again after this, making it clear this was no misunderstanding. Later, under pressure, he issued a half-hearted apology, blaming high blood sugar and suggesting I had unknowingly used problematic language. The situation escalated to the point where enough Councillors across all three political parties were ready to call a vote of no confidence in him—an unprecedented move. The (Labour) Mayor blocked the vote from taking place, but the reaction showed how serious the matter was. What disappoints me most is that despite knowing my values—he even attended Morari Bapu’s Ram Katha in Cambridge with me last year—he refused to fully retract his words, ” he added.
Speaking about Conservative Group Leader Morris Bright’s support, Abhishek said, “Morris Bright, our Conservative Party leader, then shared that he was bullied as a child and, as a Jewish person, understands the difference between bullying and antisemitism. I live in Elstree, a predominantly Jewish area. My children attend school locally, which has a large Jewish community, and many of my clients at Vedanta Hedging are Jewish property investors. Being accused of antisemitism is serious and deeply concerning—it could impact my family, my business, and my community standing. A Liberal Democrat Councillor told me he worries that antisemitism is being used as a tool to suppress democracy, making people hesitant to engage in honest debate. This is about the right to discuss issues openly. I became a Councillor out of seva—selfless service—following the teachings of my guru, Bapu. I don’t do this for the £7,000 yearly allowance; it’s about giving back to the community.”
Giving a message to his constituents and the wider public regarding this matter, Abhishek said, “Race has no place in political debate and should never be used to stifle democratic discussion. It’s not about antisemitism—or any other identity. If I give a speech and someone criticises me, that’s fair debate. But I should never accuse them of being anti-Hindu or any other bias. Many Councillors have since reached out across all political parties, expressing their dismay. But this isn’t about my background—race should never be used to derail important discussions. That night, instead of debating serious financial concerns affecting all residents of Hertsmere, attention was diverted. I even stated that I was so worried about the Council’s financial management that I would contact the Auditors. Yet, instead of addressing my concerns, Councillor Newmark deflected by playing the race card. That’s not how democracy should work.”
