Leadership contender ‘no grasp of issues’

LEADERSHIP CANDIDATE Rebecca Long Bailey once addressed a meeting co-hosted by Manchester’s Zionist Central Council and the Jewish Representative Council in a bid to calm fears among the local community about Jeremy Corbyn, the JC has learned.

But the meeting in 2015 left most in attendance unimpressed. Multiple sources say Ms Long Bailey did not display any real grasp of the issues around the connection most in the Jewish community feel to Israel. At one stage during the question and answer session she was asked her opinion on the Boycott Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement but had to ask what this was.

Daniel Berke, chair of the Zionist Central Council, said: “We were however assured by her comments that she was opposed to such boycotts.”

Attendees were asked in advance to refrain from being aggressive as she had shown good intentions by agreeing to attend.

Ms Long Bailey was asked why she had become a member of the Labour Friends of Palestine but no other Labour group affiliated with another country or people. One of those present said, “She replied that her first days at Parliament were rather like ‘freshers’ week’ and it seemed a popular organisation to join.

“She accepted readily that there were clearly two sides and gave a firm ‘promise’ that she would join Labour Friends of Israel so she could better understand the issues and for balance.” Ms Long Bailey has not joined LFI.

Ms Long Bailey told the room she had no time for those who described the Labour leader as an antisemite and pointed out his lengthy record of attempting to help the British Jewish community.

“Nevertheless, the overall feeling following the meeting was that [she] had listened and had given assurances that she would speak with Mr Corbyn to pass on our concerns,” Mr Berke said.

Last summer the JC revealed Ms Long Bailey had met representatives of the Jewish Labour Movement in a bid to calm anger over Mr Corbyn’s handling of the antisemitism issue.