Among the calls for unity
tern of security measures, citing security arrangements at her grandson’s nursery school.
The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, which educates about genocides in Darfur, Rwanda and other countries as part of 5,500 events around HMD, said it was “extremely shocked and saddened” by her comments.
Her conduct was discussed by members of the Jewish Labour Movement during a meeting with John McDonnell, Shadow Chancellor, on Tuesday.
Ms Walker — an ally of party leader Jeremy Corbyn — had already been suspended and investigated by the party earlier this year for claiming Jews were responsible for the slave Ruth Smeeth was warmly applauded by delegates trade and an “African holocaust”, but was later readmitted. In a statement, she said she would never “play down” the significance of the Holocaust, or “the very real fears the Jewish community have, especially in light of recent attacks in France”. She added: “If offence has been caused, it is the last thing I would want to do and I apologise.” As scrutiny of Ms Walker’s behaviour continued on Wednesday, Mr Corbyn made his keynote speech to the conference, vowing to fight against antisemitism with “every breath”. He was loudly applauded by delegates as he said party members must be more responsible and put an end to abuse. He added: “There is a responsibility on all of us to take care with our rhetoric, respect democratic decisions, respect our differences and respect each other. We know that robust debate has at times spilled over into abuse and hate… that is utterly unacceptable.”
The week began with Mr Corbyn’s re-election as leader on Saturday. He defeated challenger Owen Smith and said he would work to bring Labour back together. But his success led to prominent Jewish peer Lord Mitchell resigning from the party, claiming it was “the end for people like me”.
On Sunday, two events running at almost the same time threw into sharp focus the challenge facing the party.
The JLM’s packed rally against antisemitism and racism featured dozens of speakers, but not Mr McDonnell.
The group’s invitation to him had angeredsomesupporterswhoobjected to his views on Israel and his previous defence of Ms Walker.
RheaWolfson,aLabournationalexecutive committee member and supporter of Mr Corbyn, who has herself been the victim of antisemitic abuse, read a message from the leader to the rally.
In it, Mr Corbyn said he would soon begin to implement the recommendations of the Chakrabarti report on Jewhatred in the party.
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