Corbyn pal is ‘loudmouthed bully and he disgusts me’
Deputy blasts ally for comments on Jews
LABOUR’S deputy leader waded into the party’s antiSemitism row, branding a member of its ruling body “a loudmouthed bully”.
Tom Watson’s intervention put pressure on Jeremy Corbyn to condemn an outburst by his ally Peter Willsman, who sits on the National Executive Committee.
Mr Willsman was recorded at an NEC meeting calling some Jews “Trump fanatics” and suggesting they were “making up” problems about anti-Semitism in the party.
Mr Watson tweeted: “For the avoidance of doubt: Peter Willsman is and always has been a loudmouthed bully. He disgusts me.”
Senior MP Yvette Cooper called for Mr Willsman to stand aside from ongoing elections to the NEC over the “appalling” comments. Ms Cooper said: “Given we are in an election for the NEC at the moment, I think it would be very helpful if Jeremy Corbyn could ask Pete Willsman to stand down from those elections, because I think that would actually help us to make clear that the Labour Party is going to take seriously anti-Semitism in future.” The Jewish Chronicle obtained a recording of Mr Willsman saying: “Some of these people in the Jewish community support Trump. They are Trump fanatics... “So I am not going to be lectured to by Trump fanatics making up information without any evidence at all.”
He has spent his life fighting racism and trying to bring people together.
But some of the Labour leader’s devoted fans clearly have a problem with Jews.
It is obvious they have a blind spot when it comes to causing offence to this community.
Whether Corbyn likes it or not, it is often the case that activists who have been guilty of anti-Semitism are his supporters.
He must use his power to tackle anti-Semites in the ranks. The row is at risk of spiralling out of control and he needs to sort this – now.