Corbyn ally attacks ‘Jewish Trump fanatics’
ONE of Jeremy Corbyn’s closest allies on Labour’s ruling body has blamed Jewish “Trump fanatics” for making allegations of antisemitism in the party at a meeting attended by the Labour leader.
Peter Willsman, one of the socalled “JC9” of Corbyn supporters on the party’s National Executive Committee, said he would “not be lectured” by Jewish supporters of the US president “making up duff information without any evidence at all”.
Mr Willsman also appeared to suggest that examples of antisemitism within Labour were being “falsified on social media”.
One Jewish Labour MP said the comments “beggar belief”. Jewish leaders have accused Mr Corbyn of presiding over “embarrassing show trials” of MPS who criticise the party’s failure to stamp out anti-semitism.
It comes amid claims shadow chancellor John Mcdonnell – Mr Corbyn’s closest political ally – is leading a shadow cabinet rebellion over the Labour leader’s handling of the anti-semitism row.
He is said to have intervened personally by pleading with Mr Corbyn to end the disciplinary proceedings against Margaret Hodge, the MP who allegedly swore at him and called him an “anti-semite”.
Mr Willsman made the comments at a meeting during which the NEC refused to adopt in full the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti-semitism.
The secretary of a grassroots Labour movement that helped propel Mr Corbyn to party leader escaped formal punishment for his remarks at the July 17 meeting by apologising and suggesting he had been misquoted.
But an audio recording has been published by The Jewish Chronicle, prompting calls for his suspension from the party.
Mr Willsman accused critics of Labour’s stance on anti-semitism of falsifying social media posts. He said: “Some of these people in the Jewish community support Trump – they are Trump fanatics, and all the rest of it. So I am not going to be lectured to by Trump fanatics making up duff information without any evidence at all.”
As others there pleaded with him to desist, he carried on, in a louder voice: “I think we should ask the … rabbis, where is your evidence of severe and widespread anti-semitism in this party?”
As well as one of the nine members of the NEC regarded as Mr Corbyn’s strongest allies through their links to the far-left Momentum and Campaign for Labour
Democracy (CLPD) movements, Mr Willsman is also secretary of the CLPD, which helped elect Mr Corbyn as leader by campaigning for more power at grassroots level.
Luciana Berger, a Labour MP, said: “Anyone listening to this recording will be appalled to hear the venom and fury directed by Mr Willsman at the British Jewish community. [It] beggars belief. Now an accurate record of this diatribe has been identified, the party should urgently conduct a formal investigation of this conduct and suspend him today.”
After the meeting, Mr Willsman was subject to two formal complaints, but Jennie Formby, Labour’s general secretary, said there would be no investigation, as he had apologised.
A Labour Party spokesman said: “Labour takes all complaints extremely seriously. These are fully investigated in line with Party rules and procedures.”
Marie van der Zyl, the president of the Jewish Board of Deputies, said the Labour Party’s “main focus seems to be on ‘trolling’ the Jewish community”.