Security cited as July election event in Tel Aviv conference centre is moved back 24 hours to avoid clash with pop star’s concert

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

The essential ingredient in politics, the late Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau once opined, is timing.

It is a fact Israel’s struggling Labour party has been forced to confront after a clash between its leadership contest and an appearance by Britney Spears.

The unfortunate coincidence has forced the party of the leader of the Israeli opposition, Isaac Herzog, to postpone its primary elections by 24 hours.

Although both events were scheduled to take place next door to each other in the Exhibition Grounds conference and concert space in Tel Aviv on 3 July, the issue is not, it appears, that the membership of the centrist party might be persuaded that an evening with US pop singer would be less toxic than voting for its leadership.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Israeli opposition leader Isaac Herzog. Photograph: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Rather it is because the Spears concert appears to have cornered the market in security guards and ushers, leaving Labour unable to find staff to secure its election event as well as concern over heavy traffic anticipated from those attending her gig.

The party will now hold its primary a day later.

A Labour party spokesperson told the Times of Israel that the decision to postpone would “make it easier for people to reach polling stations”, and confirmed “a difficulty in recruiting security guards”.