Fury over Labour MP’s dinner date with a group that joined a pro-terrorist rally
LABOUR MP Richard Burgon has been criticised for agreeing to speak at a dinner hosted by a pro-Palestine group that has joined rallies featuring swastikas and posters of a terrorist.
Halifax Friends of Palestine has announced it will be hosting a ‘gala dinner’ later this month which features a keynote speech by the East Leeds MP, who served on the frontbench under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.
In September, the Yorkshire group took part in a pro-Palestine rally that celebrated terrorist Zakaria Zubeidi. Zubeidi, the mastermind of the 2002 Beit She’an attack that killed six civilians, was once dubbed “Israel’s most wanted”.
In August, members of the organisation were filmed at another demonstration where a placard bearing swastikas was carried and protesters chanted the Hamas rallying cry: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” The chant is widely seen as calling for the destruction of Israel.
Halifax Labour MP Holly Lynch was listed as a speaker at the dinner but pulled out. Campaigners against antisemitism have called on Mr Burgon, who chairs Labour’s Socialist Campaign Group of MPs, to do the same.
A spokesman for Labour Against Antisemitism described Labour as a “platform for bigotry”.
A loyal supporter of former leader Jeremy Corbyn, Mr Burgon introduced a Bill in Parliament in July to stop the UK Government selling arms to Israel.
He was jokingly dubbed the “MP for Gaza” after introducing the Israel Arms Trade (Prohibition) Bill. Halifax Friends of Palestine is chaired by Cllr Jenny Lynn, Cabinet member for Public Services and Communities on Calderdale Council.
Council leader Tim Swift has previously faced calls from both the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives to take action against Cllr Lynn following revelations about her part in the controversial demonstrations.
However Cllr Swift defended Cllr Lynn’s record at the time.
He said: “Councillor Lynn has a long track record of working for equality and cohesion in Calderdale, both as a community activist and a councillor, and has a proven record of working in harmony with people of all faiths and none.”
Cllr Lynn said: “There is nothing incompatible about my role as chair of a community-based organisation – Halifax Friends of Palestine – and my role in supporting all our communities and I will stand on my record on that.
“There is nothing antisemitic about standing up for the rights of Palestinian people.”
Cllr Lynn has also come under fire for attending an event, organised by the Manchester Palestine Action Group, in front of the Oldham site of Israel defence company Elbit Systems.
Mr Burgon and Labour were contacted for comment.
The proPalestine group joined a rally that celebrated a terrorist