JEREMY NEWMARK

Jewish Labour Movement chair; defeated Labour candidate in Finchley and Golders Green

Another Jeremy enjoying (or enduring?) a mixed year. He has seen the JLM thrive, with membership soaring amid a series of headline-grabbing initiatives and interventions. The group had a very strong showing at last autumn’s party conference, running workshops on challenging antisemitism and attracting support from dozens of MPs.

The movement’s candidates did well in June’s election. But Jeremy’s decision to stand for Labour in the country’s most Jewish constituency drew a wave of criticism with accusations that he was “koshering” Corbynism.

A relentless campaigner, Jeremy has criss-crossed the country promoting the JLM and working hard — often in the face of outright antisemitic abuse — to urge Labour members to keep the Jewish community’s concerns in mind.

Despite its successes in 2016-17, the JLM under Jeremy is in a tricky position. He spent the election campaign telling Jewish voters to back him because Corbyn would not win, but then he nearly did. If another election is called in the coming year, senior communal figures may break ranks and implore Jeremy to decide where he stands on Corbyn once and for all. With his namesake’s electability now seemingly not in question, like many other Labour moderates, Jeremy needs a clearer explanation of his own position.

GRADE: B