COMPLAINTS OVER NEC MEMBER

VETERAN left wing NEC member Pete Willsman has been the subject of complaints by at least two Jewish groups following his comments at Tuesday’s meeting, the JC can reveal.

Mr Willsman — a senior figure in the hard left Campaign For Labour Democracy group — sparked fury over remarks about Jewish “Trump fanatics” and a reference to Auschwitz at the NEC meeting.

The complaints about Mr Willsman’s conduct were sent to the Labour Party on Wednesday.

A complaint to the NEC from Michael Rubinstein of the Jewish Representative Council of Manchester accuses Mr Willsman of making “antisemitic and racist” remarks.

It adds: “That these comments were made by someone charged with making decisions about how the Labour Party tackles antisemitism makes the matter all the more serious.”

Mr Willsman has long been one of Mr Corbyn’s most redoubtable NEC allies. He has repeatedly defended Ken Livingstone over claims of antisemtism in the past.

His has also backed calls for Marc Wadsworth — who was expelled from the party over allegations involving antisemitism — to be reinstated.

At the NEC meeting which first put Mr Corbyn on the ballot paper to become leader, he reportedly declared: “I want the party to split, so we can get rid of the Blairites.”