Labour man apologises for calling Jews ‘Trump fanatics’
Anti-Semitism crisis grows
A MEMBER of Labour’s ruling body has avoided punishment after calling members of the Jewish community “Trump fanatics” and suggesting they were “making up” problems about antiSemitism in the party. In a statement released to The
Yorkshire Post, Peter Willsman apologised for “offensive” and insensitive comments and referred himself to equalities training.
But the fact that he has escaped punishment will likely add to the pressure on Jeremy Corbyn over anti-Semitism.
A senior source close to the Labour leader told The Yorkshire
Post Mr Willsman did not breach party rules and that his comments were “both insensitive and offensive to those who have experienced anti-Semitism”.
But Jewish leaders had called for Labour to expel the National Executive Committee (NEC) member and raised questions about whether the party leader had been present at the meeting where the comments were made.
Labour former Cabinet Minister and West Yorkshire MP Yvette Cooper said Mr Willsman’s remarks were “appalling” and urged Mr Corbyn to ask him to stand down as a candidate in elections for the NEC.
Mr Willsman said: “I am sorry for my behaviour in the last meeting of Labour’s NEC, which I deeply regret. Having sat on the NEC for many years, I am of course aware of appalling instances of anti-Semitism within our party, and am wholly determined to rooting it out of our movement.
“I do not believe anti-Semitism is ‘widespread’ in the Labour party, and that was what my comments were trying to refer to, but we do have a problem which needs stamping out. One antiSemite is one too many.
“I recognise the offensive nature of my comments and that in diminishing the experiences of those who face anti-Semitism in our party and society, I showed a lack of the sensitivity required for discussions around racism.
“I will be referring myself to receive equalities training so I can better understand how to approach discussions of such issues in a respectful way.” In the clip acquired by the Jewish Chronicle, Mr Willsman can be heard saying with a raised voice: “Some of these people in the Jewish community support Trump, they are Trump fanatics and all the rest of it. So I am not going to be lectured to by Trump fanatics making up information without any evidence at all.”
I will be referring myself to equalities training Labour National Executive Committee member Peter Willsman
JEREMY CORBYN has been keen to portray Labour as a “Government in waiting” but the appalling handling of the anti-Semitism crisis engulfing the party suggests otherwise.
The latest sorry chapter in the ongoing row involves Peter Willsman, a member of Labour’s ruling body, dismissing some members of the Jewish community who had raised concerns about Labour’s attitudes towards them as “Trump fanatics making up information without any evidence at all”. He also demanded that 68 rabbis who had jointly written to the party asking it to adopt the full International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antiSemitism provide evidence of “severe and widespread anti-Semitism” in Labour.
A recording of his heated remarks, made at a meeting attended by Mr Corbyn, was published by The Jewish Chronicle but despite widespread calls for his suspension, Labour has said it considers the matter “resolved” following an apology from Mr Willsman.
That position stands in stark contrast to the party’s treatment of MPs Ian Austin and Dame Margaret Hodge, who have been placed under investigation for “abusive conduct” after angry criticisms of the Labour leader’s handling of antiSemitism issues following a string of scandals.
Earlier this year, Mr Corbyn wrote to Jewish leaders suggesting he “will never be anything other than a militant opponent of anti-Semitism”. That fact that such a clarification would be necessary in the first place tells its own story; but his claim is ringing ever-more hollow for the increasing numbers of the Jewish community who have concluded there is no place for them in the party.