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| Labour has taken too long to stamp out antisemitism, says Corbyn ally | Labour has taken too long to stamp out antisemitism, says Corbyn ally |
| (4 months later) | |
| Labour has taken too long to stamp out antisemitism in the party, a key ally of Jeremy Corbyn has said. | Labour has taken too long to stamp out antisemitism in the party, a key ally of Jeremy Corbyn has said. |
| The shadow business secretary, Rebecca Long-Bailey, said it was imperative for the party to urgently address the problem to ensure that the Jewish community felt welcome. | The shadow business secretary, Rebecca Long-Bailey, said it was imperative for the party to urgently address the problem to ensure that the Jewish community felt welcome. |
| In an interview for BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said: “Jeremy has always been a militant opponent of antisemitism, but too often the issue has been dismissed as a few bad apples when we need to take very serious root and branch action, to root out the cause of the problem.” | In an interview for BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said: “Jeremy has always been a militant opponent of antisemitism, but too often the issue has been dismissed as a few bad apples when we need to take very serious root and branch action, to root out the cause of the problem.” |
| Her comments came after some Labour MPs joined protesters outside parliament following claims from Jewish leaders that Corbyn had become a figurehead for antisemitism. | Her comments came after some Labour MPs joined protesters outside parliament following claims from Jewish leaders that Corbyn had become a figurehead for antisemitism. |
| Corbyn himself conceded that his party had failed to address the problem and issued his strongest apology yet over his 2012 backing of a graffiti artist behind an antisemitic mural. | Corbyn himself conceded that his party had failed to address the problem and issued his strongest apology yet over his 2012 backing of a graffiti artist behind an antisemitic mural. |
| Long-Bailey, a staunch supporter of Corbyn who is touted as a potential future party leader from the left, said it was “devastating to realise that the Jewish community had lost faith in our approach to antisemitism”. | Long-Bailey, a staunch supporter of Corbyn who is touted as a potential future party leader from the left, said it was “devastating to realise that the Jewish community had lost faith in our approach to antisemitism”. |
| Lord Levy, Labour’s former chief fundraiser, said he was considering leaving the party over the issue. Asked if he still felt at home in the party, he said: “I’m not sure. I put myself under the microscope continually because the provenance of Corbyn comes from a certain element of the left and they seem to be able to call the shots. If these people are antisemitic [and if] they do not believe in zero tolerance on antisemitism, they should not be part of this Labour party.” | Lord Levy, Labour’s former chief fundraiser, said he was considering leaving the party over the issue. Asked if he still felt at home in the party, he said: “I’m not sure. I put myself under the microscope continually because the provenance of Corbyn comes from a certain element of the left and they seem to be able to call the shots. If these people are antisemitic [and if] they do not believe in zero tolerance on antisemitism, they should not be part of this Labour party.” |
| Long-Bailey insisted Labour did take a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism but this had not been “enforced as effectively as it should have been”. | Long-Bailey insisted Labour did take a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism but this had not been “enforced as effectively as it should have been”. |
| Two major public furores about antisemitism occurred in 2016, with Labour MP Naz Shah apologising for an antisemitic Facebook post, and former London mayor Ken Livingstone making remarks about “the Israel lobby” and Hitler supporting Zionism in broadcast interviews that eventually led to him quitting the party after a lengthy disciplinary process. A report that year by Shami Chakrabarti exonerated the party of widespread antisemitism but reported an 'occasionally toxic atmosphere'. | Two major public furores about antisemitism occurred in 2016, with Labour MP Naz Shah apologising for an antisemitic Facebook post, and former London mayor Ken Livingstone making remarks about “the Israel lobby” and Hitler supporting Zionism in broadcast interviews that eventually led to him quitting the party after a lengthy disciplinary process. A report that year by Shami Chakrabarti exonerated the party of widespread antisemitism but reported an 'occasionally toxic atmosphere'. |
| Matters escalated in 2018 when it became evident that the party was receiving more and more complaints, to the extent that there was a backlog of disciplinary cases. Jeremy Corbyn apologised that April for hurt caused to the Jewish community by problems in the process and pointed to only 0.1% of members being under investigation for alleged antisemitic comments. | Matters escalated in 2018 when it became evident that the party was receiving more and more complaints, to the extent that there was a backlog of disciplinary cases. Jeremy Corbyn apologised that April for hurt caused to the Jewish community by problems in the process and pointed to only 0.1% of members being under investigation for alleged antisemitic comments. |
| But the party was also mired in a row about whether to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which it ended up ultimately approving. Then accusations of political interference in the complaints process by aides close to Corbyn began to emerge earlier this year, which the party strongly denies. | But the party was also mired in a row about whether to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which it ended up ultimately approving. Then accusations of political interference in the complaints process by aides close to Corbyn began to emerge earlier this year, which the party strongly denies. |
| The resignations of some MPs and peers over antisemitism in February 2019 alarmed many Labour colleagues. Then Chris Williamson, a Labour MP and ally of Corbyn, caused an outcry for saying that the party had been 'too apologetic' about antisemitism complaints. However, many of his supporters in the party backed a campaign saying he had been vilified and badly treated. Then came the announcement that the Equalities and Human Rights Commission was placing the party under formal investigation over antisemitism. | The resignations of some MPs and peers over antisemitism in February 2019 alarmed many Labour colleagues. Then Chris Williamson, a Labour MP and ally of Corbyn, caused an outcry for saying that the party had been 'too apologetic' about antisemitism complaints. However, many of his supporters in the party backed a campaign saying he had been vilified and badly treated. Then came the announcement that the Equalities and Human Rights Commission was placing the party under formal investigation over antisemitism. |
| In November 2019 the chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, said Jews are justifiably anxious about the idea of Jeremy Corbyn becoming prime minister, saying a “poison sanctioned from the top” has taken root in Labour. | |
| In a July 2019 programme, eight whistleblowers spoke to a BBC Panorama documentary, with some saying they felt there was political meddling from Corbyn’s office in the process for handling antisemitism complaints. Seumas Milne, one of Corbyn’s closest aides, told officials the party was 'muddling up political disputes with racism' and must review processes. Jennie Formby, the general secretary, was accused of attempting to interfere in who sat on a panel examining the case of Jackie Walker, a high-profile activist who was eventually expelled from the party. | In a July 2019 programme, eight whistleblowers spoke to a BBC Panorama documentary, with some saying they felt there was political meddling from Corbyn’s office in the process for handling antisemitism complaints. Seumas Milne, one of Corbyn’s closest aides, told officials the party was 'muddling up political disputes with racism' and must review processes. Jennie Formby, the general secretary, was accused of attempting to interfere in who sat on a panel examining the case of Jackie Walker, a high-profile activist who was eventually expelled from the party. |
| Labour strongly denied the allegations of political interference, and came out on the offensive, accusing the BBC of bias and calling for the documentary to be pulled. A Labour spokesman said the party had fully answered “a number of questions” put to it by the programme, and had also sent 50 pages of documents in response. The complaints to the BBC had been made “at various levels, including the director general”. | Labour strongly denied the allegations of political interference, and came out on the offensive, accusing the BBC of bias and calling for the documentary to be pulled. A Labour spokesman said the party had fully answered “a number of questions” put to it by the programme, and had also sent 50 pages of documents in response. The complaints to the BBC had been made “at various levels, including the director general”. |
| Yes, particularly his record when he was a backbencher. For example, Corbyn has said he regrets calling members of Hamas and Hezbollah “friends” at a meeting in parliament in 2009. He accepted he had made a mistake by supporting a graffiti artist after his work, featuring several known antisemitic tropes, was removed from a wall in east London after complaints. The UK’s three most prominent Jewish newspapers published a joint editorial saying a government led by Corbyn would pose an existential threat to Jewish life in the UK. | |
| Labour insists the a figure of 130 outstanding cases of antisemitism is inaccurate, and says it is “taking robust action”, including quick suspensions, a process for rapid expulsions and an education programme. However, it has not yet provided its own up-to-date figure. | |
| Some prospective candidates have been accused of antisemitism during the campaign. Gideon Bull stepped down in Clacton after denying he used the term “Shylock” in front of a Jewish councillor, while Kate Ramsden, who had been standing for Gordon, in Aberdeenshire, withdrew after it emerged she was being re-interviewed by Labour over posts comparing Israel to “an abused child who becomes an abusive adult”. However, other candidates criticised for antisemitism have remained in place, including Apsana Begum, who shared a post referring to “Zionist masters”. She later distanced herself from the post saying she did not share those views. | |
| Peter Walker and Rowena Mason | |
| She also called for faster implementation of recommendations made by Shami Chakrabarti in a report for Labour on allegations of antisemitism. | She also called for faster implementation of recommendations made by Shami Chakrabarti in a report for Labour on allegations of antisemitism. |
| She said: “There will be clear efforts now to roll out a political education programme specifically to make sure that every single person in the Labour party is aware of all forms of antisemitism ... to make sure nobody suffers in the way that they have done.” | She said: “There will be clear efforts now to roll out a political education programme specifically to make sure that every single person in the Labour party is aware of all forms of antisemitism ... to make sure nobody suffers in the way that they have done.” |
| Long-Bailey said she hoped Jewish leaders would help Labour to tackle the issue. “I would really welcome a meeting as urgently as possible between Jeremy and the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council because we have to work collaboratively on this,” she said. | Long-Bailey said she hoped Jewish leaders would help Labour to tackle the issue. “I would really welcome a meeting as urgently as possible between Jeremy and the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council because we have to work collaboratively on this,” she said. |
| On Corbyn’s comments about the mural, she said: “It was clearly an antisemitic mural, and Jeremy has apologised for not looking at it. We are all human unfortunately and it’s a lesson to us all to look clearly at the things we are supporting or commenting on on Facebook.” | On Corbyn’s comments about the mural, she said: “It was clearly an antisemitic mural, and Jeremy has apologised for not looking at it. We are all human unfortunately and it’s a lesson to us all to look clearly at the things we are supporting or commenting on on Facebook.” |
| Levy was reluctant to accept Corbyn’s apology. He said: “It is all well to say that he didn’t realise what was in it, I just don’t accept that. I think this is a man who does not have sensitivity to understanding where the community comes from and what the Jewish community stands for and believes in.” | Levy was reluctant to accept Corbyn’s apology. He said: “It is all well to say that he didn’t realise what was in it, I just don’t accept that. I think this is a man who does not have sensitivity to understanding where the community comes from and what the Jewish community stands for and believes in.” |
| On Monday night, the former Labour prime minister Tony Blair said he did not believe Corbyn was antisemitic but said there were people around the leader who “don’t really think this is a serious issue”. | On Monday night, the former Labour prime minister Tony Blair said he did not believe Corbyn was antisemitic but said there were people around the leader who “don’t really think this is a serious issue”. |
| He told BBC Two’s Newsnight: “I think up to now at least they haven’t really got it. I think they would be very wise to listen to what the Jewish community is saying today and act on it.” | He told BBC Two’s Newsnight: “I think up to now at least they haven’t really got it. I think they would be very wise to listen to what the Jewish community is saying today and act on it.” |
| Asked why action on the issue had taken so long, he replied: “I don’t know. Because I think there are people, around him at least, that don’t really think this is a serious issue, and hopefully now they realise that it is.” | Asked why action on the issue had taken so long, he replied: “I don’t know. Because I think there are people, around him at least, that don’t really think this is a serious issue, and hopefully now they realise that it is.” |
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