Labour anti-semitism

November 2018

Luciana Berger accused the Tories of employing an anti-Semite -Scruton - chair of housing- because he pedals anti Semitic conspiracy theories. Although the government tried to defend his appointment he was later sacked because he rather dimly repeated the same conspiracy theories in an interview with the New Statesman.

His language was of a white supremicist.

Jewish Voice for Labour. Official Statement.

Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour a crucial ally in the fight against antisemitism

JVL Introduction

A letter published today by the Guardian rebuffs claims by MPs defecting from Labour that the party led by Jeremy Corbyn is “institutionally racist”.

Two hundred and one Jewish members and supporters of the party, including film director Mike Leigh, writer and broadcaster Michael Rosen, author Gillian Slovo and Walter Wolfgang, 93, who fled Nazi Germany as a child, note the rise of reactionary, racist ideologies across Europe. They decry the “disproportionate focus on antisemitism on the left, which is abhorrent but relatively rare.”

They point to Jeremy Corbyn’s lifetime record of campaigning for equality and human rights and argue that Labour government led by Corbyn “will be a powerful force to fight against racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism.”

The signatories, among them many eminent academics, urge “all who wish to see an end to bigotry and racism, and who seek a more just society, to give their support to the Labour Party.”

For further information contact [email protected].

Over 200 Jewish members and supporters of the Labour party sign a letter urging that anyone seeking an end to bigotry and racism should back Labour and Corbyn

Guardian Letters
20 February 2019

You report (19 February) that a number of implacably anti-Corbyn MPs have left the Labour party alleging a failed “approach to dealing with antisemitism”, with Luciana Berger criticising Labour for becoming “sickeningly institutionally racist”.

We are Jewish members and supporters of the Labour party concerned about the current rise of reactionary ideologies, including antisemitism, in Britain and elsewhere across Europe.

We note the worrying growth of populist rightwing parties, encouraging racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism. In Britain the far right is whipping up these prejudices, a threat that requires a resolute and energetic response. But instead we have seen a disproportionate focus on antisemitism on the left, which is abhorrent but relatively rare.

We believe that the Labour party under the progressive leadership of Jeremy Corbyn is a crucial ally in the fight against bigotry and reaction. His lifetime record of campaigning for equality and human rights, including consistent support for initiatives against antisemitism, is formidable. His involvement strengthens this struggle.

Labour governments introduced both the anti-racist and human rights legislation of the 20th century and the 2010 Equalities Act. A Labour government led by Jeremy Corbyn will be a powerful force to fight against racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism.

It is in this context that we welcome the Labour party’s endorsement of freedom of expression on Israel and on the rights of Palestinians. Labour is correct to recognise that while prejudice against Jewish people is deplorable, criticism of Israel’s government and policies can and must be made.

We urge all who wish to see an end to bigotry and racism, and who seek a more just society, to give their support to the Labour party.

Comments.

Ellie Palmer
22nd February 2019 at 00:35
Ellie Palmer Professor Emeritus of Law /Human Rights University of Essex.
My decision to join the Labour Party coincided with Corbyn’s appointment as leader, my retirement and move to London from Essex. My academic legal work though not party political has always focused on comparative issues of socio economic rights -, public services etc. Shortly before retiring I published an edited collection Access to Justice: Beyond the Policies and Politics of Austerity with preface by Stephen Sedley and launched by Helena Kennedy. I grew up in Glasgow (the daughter of a Jewish refugee father and and my mother was the daughter of an Irish miner who came to Scotland before the First World. One could say a different socio economic grouping from the Jewish victims in this recent melodrama. I have been watching the manufactured crisis unfolding and I fully support your letter. I have always been angry and saddened by the unbalanced media coverage given to the melodrama but even more shocked by the support given by Tom Watson and Barry Gardiner in fuelling the flames. I would like to support your organisation in any way I can

Dr Brian Robinson
22nd February 2019 at 11:32
Jonathan Pie: ‘I don’t believe that Labour has an antisemite at the helm, I believe they have something much, much worse — a socialist: a proper leftie! In their heads that’s far more dangerous.’ youtu.be/-O2NsPioKBs

Dr Brian Robinson
22nd February 2019 at 16:40
Professor Palmer, I loved reading that, many thanks. I too have been surprised at Tom Watson’s line, indeed I’ve written to him a few times to criticise it. I like Tom and in many ways admire him and voted for him as deputy, but on this issue he’s lost it completely. Perhaps it’s the old canny political bruiser coming out in him, redolent of the backroom stitch-ups in smoke-filled rooms, echoes of ditch Blair/crown Brown days (I doubt there’s ever been much love lost between Tom and Jerry). In 2015 I thought Watson could form a creative bridge between the radical Corbyn and the reactionary PLP, smoothing things along. I was wrong alas.

Professor pnina werner
23rd February 2019 at 18:50
I support this letter. I am a member of the Labour Party. I to have been shocked by the way that criticism of Israel’s right- wing government led by Netanyahu is construed as anti-semitism.

Terence McGinity
24th February 2019 at 08:50
I was one of the Signatories to the JVL letter to the Guardian. I fully support its defense of the LP under the Leadership of Jeremy Corbyn. I re-joined the LP because of his Election and his record against racism of any kind. I consider him a principled politician and one who has consistently stood up for the Oppressed either at home or abroad. He has consistently stood against war and sought dialogue and peaceful reconciliation. There has been so much blood shed in recent decades including the blood of Palestinians and children of Yemen by UK sponsored Arms deals.
I shall also be supporting Jackie Walker when she comes to face a LP Tribunal on March 26th. I consider it incredibly dangerous the current attacks on the LP with accusations of ‘institutional antisemitism’. It is entirely false and it plays into the hands of the Far Right who meantime are gathering force in the world. Lessons from Germany in the 30s must surely teach us this. ‘Corbynism’ is a threat to the Neo Liberal elite which engages huge resources into destroying it.
My message to John MacDonald is that you cannot appease the Right. Every concession leads onto further attacks. They will not be satisfied till Corbyn and all that he represents falls. We must stand firm against these attacks and any witch hunts of members within our Party. I think of what Tony Benn would make of all this and am encouraged by his warmth, principle and humanity.
Where real antisemitism or racism of any kind exists we will tackle it. But we must stand firm on our right to criticize Israel’s oppression of the Palestinians, its Nation State Law and brutality.
ps. I think it is high time a TV media outlet for the Labour Movement
including the many campaigning groups was created. How else to combat
the appalling propaganda of MSM and the supposed ‘Neutrality’ of the BBC? There are many principled independent journalists, writers and film makers who would make such an endeavour very timely. At least, a discussion could be opened.
T. McGinity

Excellent post grany

Thank you Whitewavemark2 Sun 07-Jul-19 15:26:35

Thank you for that post grany

You are welcome Ilovecheese

What a love fest going on.

It’s no good POGS and many others on this thread, blinkered socialism ( beloved of Corbyn) abounds and they just refuse to see the truth of the matter, even though there is plenty of evidence out there, that under Corbyn as LOTO antisemitism has mushroomed, and further to that, the LP
Now seems totally unable to get to grips with it.Unable...or unwilling?
They will be losing the Jewish vote in the future, that’s for sure.

You are amazing lemon

Could they be members of Jewdas Seder. ? Corbyn said he learned much from them after spending an evening in their
company ? Their prayer ends with

‘And f**k the Queen and especially f**k Prince Phillip, burn
down parliament . Full communism. Amen

Annie I thang kew!

My pleasure lemon

Here is some more anti Semitic evidence for those blinkered Tories, who seem to think quite wrongly that it exists only in the Labour Party.

April 2018

A number of Jewish organisations called on the Tory party to confront a number of European parties that the Tory party is affiliated to because of their racism and anti semitism.

September 2018

Jewish leaders condemned the Tories because they continued to support Hungary’s far right government which
has violated press freedom, undermining judicial independence, and waging an anti-Semitic war against George Soros. The Jewish leaders asked the Tory party to withdraw their support from the political group including Hungary, Latvia and Poland, all of who have an anti-Semitic record.

The Tories were the only Conservative party in Europe to support Hungary.
The Jewish Chronicle described the Tory vote as “truly shameful and a dark day for the Tory party”

Quite a few high profile Tories refused to condemn the support for anti-semitism. Gove was amongst them. The Jewish chronicle remarked on the irony, that the Tory party were supporting anti-semitism at the same time as they were condemning Corbyn

If we withdrew support from European countries with histories of antisemitism then we would end up supporting nobody at all diplomatically!
Of course there will be some antisemitism in every political party including the saintly (!) Lib Dems but the difference is that other parties deal with accusations of it quite quickly and the LP have been dragging their feet, apparently reluctant to engage with this problem.
The LP do now have an awful reputation with the general public and the Jewish community at large, and they know that ( unlike some posters on GN.)

July 2018.

A row broke out over the Labour Party and the IHRA and the definition of anti-semtism.

This was condemned by the Tory party, but it was subsequently found that despite Tory party assurances they had not in fact adopted the IHRA definition and in fact had lied.

January 2017

Johnson as Foreign Secretary met with the white supreme its Steve Bannon. Bannon was described by as someone who is synonymous with anti-semitism, misogyny, racism and homophobia. He supports far right organisations throughout the world.. The Jewish Labour Movement accused Johnson of hypocrisy. Johnson accused Corbyn of anti semitism whilst meeting Bannon. And continues to do so.

Grany another good post.
Being personally involved in this issue, I find it hard to put forward a single view.
There are so many branches of Judaism in this country and they each seem to have a different opinion on this. As the old saying goes, "70 Jews, 70 opinions".
The reason I wish it wasn't so high profile is that as history has shown, it will probably all come back to blaming the Jews for moaning in the end.

I would hope that won’t be the case fennel but with luck washing all this dirty linen will result in the recognition that racism needs to be confronted everywhere it is found and the fight against it never ceases.

Whitewave

"Here is some more anti Semitic evidence for those blinkered Tories, who seem to think quite wrongly that it exists only in the Labour Party."
---

I will ask you the same question when you have asked the same sort of question before.

Who are the ' blinkered' Tories who think it only exists in the Labour Party?

Which poster from any party has said it only exists in the Labour Party?

That is the difference between posters, some are open and admit antisemitism and Islamophobia, racism belongs in 'ALL' parties others believe antisemitism is not a problem for Labour, the Labour MP's are liars and it is a Media /Labour MP's/Blairite/Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all conspiracy and deny evidence when it is put forward.

Some more evidence that anti-semitism is endemic in the Tory party

October 2016
Tory party conference

Mays “ citizen of nowhere” speech alarmed a number of Jewish commentators as being similar to the language to be found in Mein Kampf.

Nick Timothy - Mays aid- was also criticised by a number of commentators over his criticism of George Soros as being anti Semitic.

POGS if you admit that the Tory party is both anti-Semitic and Islamophobia then I invite you to post evidence to support this view.

POGS as a Jewish convert (30 years ago) I've puzzled over this constantly.
There's no doubt that antisemitism exists in all countries where Jews live. Even in the Holy Land . I've asked non-Jews about it and they say fear, misunderstanding, jealousy etc.
The need to have a scapegoat.
And most of all , the claim to be a 'chosen people', whatever that means, places Jews in the impossible position of having to be perfect. We're only human.

There is no anti-semitism. It's a ploy to create anti-semitism, by drawing attention to all things Jewish. Those who have happily lived side by side with Jews and accepted them as part of our society are now being encouraged to feel hostile towards them. In politics, there is always some psychological game being played.

You could be right, RosieLeah. I do hope so.

It might be interesting if someone could explain why if as has been said there is anti-semitism in all the parties it is only the Labour party anti-semitism that has made headlines.

trisher - no doubt you'll disagree with my view on why the alleged anti semitism in the LP has made headlines. The LP has been the natural home for the majority of members of the Jewish community. It's been the party that stands for equality, anti racism etc.
Of course there is anti semitism in other parties, it's part of the Jewish experience, just as with all so called minority groups. It isn't just hitting the headlines because of 'the right wing press'. What about that long speech made by Margaret Hodge, that POGS printed earlier. Does that count for nothing?