Jewish Labour members boycott anti-Semitism talks with party top brass
2 min read
A Jewish Labour group has vowed to boycott talks with the party on tackling anti-Semitism until a string of demands are met.
The Jewish Labour Movement accused party leaders of trying to deliberately “antagonise tensions” in the bitter row over the issue as it pulled out of a meeting set for today.
It said it was swerving discussions with the party’s working group on anti-Semitism because its faith in a change of approach from the leadership “has all but disappeared”.
JLM was invited to the meeting but was rebuffed over its calls to become a permanent member of the group of senior National Executive Committee members.
The organisation was also left fuming after its top brass was invited to a previous meeting but had the invitation withdrawn after they were left waiting outside while members discussed the matter.
JLM chair Ivor Caplin blasted the approach of the leadership in an angry letter to Labour general secretary Jennie Formby, seen by the Independent.
He laid out a series of grievances and said the party had “embarked on a strategy that will only antagonise tensions further”.
“Despite our numerous warnings, we can only conclude that this has been done so with intent,” he added.
And he said: “Unless and until we are able to obtain satisfactory outcomes to the below, the Jewish Labour Movement cannot participate in good faith with the antisemitism working group’s activities.”
DEMANDS
One demand is that Labour adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism and its examples in its code of conduct - which the party has so far refused to do.
The others are to respond to formal complaints about NEC member Peter Willsman, Labour MP Chris Williamson and end a disciplinary probe into another MP, Ian Austin.
Mr Willsman was caught on tape saying some Jewish critics were “Trump supporters” and was defended by Mr Williamson.
Mr Austin is accused of launching an angry tirade at party chair Ian Lavery over the anti-Semitism issue.
A Labour source told the Independent: "The party has always sought to work constructively with JLM and invited them to join the working group meeting.
"Jennie and the NEC have made clear that they want to work with the Jewish community to address their concerns about the code of conduct and tackle anti-Semitism within the party and across society."
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