Left split over anti-Semitism row

LABOUR Left-wingers were at loggerheads yesterday over Jeremy Corbyn’s handling of anti-Semitism allegations.

Hard Left group Momentum has dropped backing for Corbyn ally Pete Willsman to be re-elected to Labour’s ruling National Executive.

It follows a recording emerging of Mr Willsman telling the NEC that some complaints about Labour anti-Semitism came from Jewish “Trump fanatics” and were based on made-up information.

But Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union and a Momentum member, said that by withdrawing support for Mr Willsman “the leadership of Momentum has bottled it”. He added: “I listened to that recording of Willsman. It was an angry rant and not anti-Semitic at all.

“This decision is inept, cowardly and completely arbitrary.”

A Momentum source said the decision to drop Mr Willsman from its slate was democratically decided after his “inappropriate and insensitive” comments. Mr Willsman has apologised and referred himself for equality training.

Momentum founder Jon Lansman has also criticised as “a massive tactical mistake” Labour’s threat to discipline senior Jewish MP Dame Margaret Hodge for calling Mr Corbyn a “racist and an anti-Semite”.

Dame Margaret, whose row with Mr Corbyn was over the party’s refusal to adopt in full the internationally accepted definition of anti-Semitism, told BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour she still had “no idea” what allegations she faces or the process the party planned to follow.

She accused Labour of “playing around” with the definition and said it was ridiculous that no action was planned against Mr Willsman.