Now SNP’s MPs to get antisemitism lessons
NATIONALIST MPs are to undergo antisemitism training in a bid to tackle rising levels of abuse of Jewish people.
The party has agreed to an education programme run by the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC).
It will focus on the use of language, including when discussing Israel and Palestinians, and its impact on Jews living in Scotland.
SCoJeC wants Nationalist MPs to set an example for the public and use their influence in the wider party and local branches.
It stressed the training was not in response to the SNP’s suspension of Neale Hanvey, who is now an independent MP, over antisemitic social media posts, and believes all parties would benefit from the training. It is also in talks with Scottish parliament chiefs to deliver training to MSPs on a crossparty basis.
Danielle Bett, of SCoJeC, said: ‘MPs need to be able to explain the issues, what Jewish hatred looks like, and how, from day to day, it impacts on Jews in this country.
‘We are going to run awareness sessions with all the SNP MPs, regardless of what happens with Mr Hanvey.
‘We would encourage every MP, from every party, to engage with the Jewish community on antisemitism, but also to be able to speak about certain issues with more sensitivity, and use their influence in the party and local branches.’
The Community Security Trust, a charity set up to protect British Jews from antisemitism and related threats, reported an increase in abuse in the UK, last year, with 28 incidents in Scotland – up seven on 2018.
An SNP spokesman said: ‘We welcome the offer of antisemitism training SCoJeC has made to all parliamentary parties and are working with them to schedule that.’
The SNP follows in the footsteps of Scottish Labour in promising antisemitism training for politicians. Leader Richard Leonard pledged to root anti-Jewish prejudice out of his party during a conference speech in March, last year.
He said: ‘It sickens me that there is any antisemitism in our party and in our movement. There is no place in our party for prejudice, bigotry, hatred and racism and we will root it out.’
That was seen as a stronger line on antisemitism than taken by UK Labour under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership – failure which contributed to the party’s humiliation in December’s General Election.
Brian Roy, then-general secretary of Scottish Labour, wrote in a memo to party chiefs last year: ‘The Scottish Executive Committee will ensure, as part of this work, that all Scottish Labour elected representatives, candidates and members of the SEC participate in equality and diversity training.’