There is a MASSIVE cultural political difference between South East and London Based MPs. This goes across all parties.
This is why the red/blue wall concept was created - because it reflected a real social division.
Political surveys have also found the are massive social attitude differences between north and south.
I wouldn't associate it with a jewish trope tbh for that reason. Maybe it does have roots in anti-semitism, but I don't think its necessarily about that and thats not necessarily how it will be understood by a huge number of people - in the UK (we'll go into this a bit more later).
It depends on the intent. Its possible its playing to two audiences - a northern one and an anti-semitic one as well.
I associate it as a swipe at Starmer / Corbyn who both have constituencies in North London and them being out of touch with the north. Should we ignore that the last two Labour leaders have been from the same small part of London, when one of the features of British politics since 2016 has been about this North / South Divide. Have we forgotten the Northern Powerhouse and how important HS2 was going to be? Historically, the battle for the north is where elections have been won and lost - particularly in more recent years - and its about highlighting that to this part of the electorate. This dynamic will be part of political strategy because of how important the red/blue wall seats are. Much was talked about how important that Blair's constitency was Sedgefield - a northern one.
Not being funny, but if that how I'M interpreting it as a Northerner thats how many others will. Many northerners won't even understand the jewish thing because they won't even register the connection. Precisely cos they aren't from London and don't give a shit about London polictics and possibly have no clue or even particular interest in the demographics of North London!
Indeed I'd go as far as to say, the anti-semitic interpretation is potentially a London Centric one - and actually re-inforces this concept of the political class from London not understanding the North's mindset and sense of priorities and interests being massively different. So the danger here in going on about it being anti-semitic is you inadvertly make northerners roll their eyes as far back in their heads as you can possibly imagine because once again the North becomes invisible as London Centric issues dominate over this sense of being second class. Some will see it as a tactic to try and silence criticisms that Labour's selection process is meaning representation of the North hasn't been good.
You risk throwing tensions about Israel into the mix unnecessarily and fuelling anti-semitic feeling, when a lot of people wouldn't have registered it otherwise. Talk about creating a culture war! How does that help and reduce anti-semitism??? In doing so, its YOU who inflames matters too.
Think about this as well. This is a journalist who is/has been London based writing for an American Audience with absoluetely no understanding of UK north v south polictics. Its exploitative in its own right to stoke feelings in the US by using British politics in a way that doesn't even necessarily reflect the UK. How is that ok??? Why aren't they writing about the dynamic in British politics where the North feels left behind? Anyone would think they are writing about British politics because there is an American Election coming and they can use this for their own political agenda not to reflect British politics in anyway.
Hmmm.
This isn't to say that anti-semitism is ok. Its really really not. I'm saying that in recent years the dynamics of politics is relevant and how people will understand the comment is important.