Christine Shawcroft quits Labour NEC over Holocaust row
2 min read
Labour official Christine Shawcroft is set to be replaced by comedian Eddie Izzard after dramatically quitting the party’s ruling National Executive Committee last night.
Ms Shawcroft has been under increasing pressure to step down after it was revealed that she had defended Labour candidate, Alan Bull, who posted an article claiming the Holocaust was a hoax.
Earlier this week she was told by Jeremy Corbyn to stand down as chair of Labour's disputes panel, but it was understood she would stay on as a member of the party’s powerful ruling body.
However, in a statement released last night, Ms Shawcroft said: “It has been a privilege to serve on the Labour party National Executive Committee for 19 years, and I was standing down in September in any event. I have, however, decided to resign with immediate effect.
“It is clear that my continued membership of the NEC has become a distraction for the party and an excuse for endless intrusive media harassment of myself, my family and friends".
"I reaffirm my complete opposition to anti-Semitism and my abhorrence of Holocaust denial, and support all measures to tackle this within the party."
“And I pledge my full energy to securing for our country the Labour government under Jeremy Corbyn that it so desperately needs."
Under party rules, comedian Eddie Izzard, who was beaten by Ms Shawcroft in the 2017 NEC election, will take her place until there is a new vote this summer.
This comes as Mr Corbyn struggles to contain the mounting anti-Semitism allegations surrounding Labour, which prompted a protest by leading Jewish groups outside Parliament last week.
In a previous statement, Ms Shawcroft suggested that the row had been whipped up by political opponents to undermine Mr Corbyn.
Meanwhile, it has been announced that MPs will debate the rise of anti-Semitism on 17 April, with Tory Cabinet minister Sajid Javid challenging the Labour leader to come to the Commons and defend his party over its record on the issue.
In a tweet before the debate had been secured, Mr Javid wrote: “Enough is enough @jeremycorbyn. I’m going to ask for a debate in Parliament on anti-semitism in coming weeks.
“I challenge you to turn up and personally speak for the Opposition. Your opportunity to explain why you defend the world’s oldest hatred.”
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