The founder of Corbynite blog Skwawkbox ‘leaves Labour’
THE CONTROVERSIAL founder of the pro-Jeremy Corbyn blog Skwawkbox has left the Labour Party, according to multiple sources.
Steven Walker, a former chair of Garston and Halewood Constituency Labour Party in north-west England, has also been the subject of numerous complaints sent to the party, including allegations of bullying, harassment and sexism. It is not clear whether the website editor quit the party ahead of any investigation into the claims.
The JC understands that Mr Walker — who founded the Skwawkbox website in 2012 — resigned from the party several weeks ago.
One party source told the JC last week that Mr Walker was “no longer a member of the Labour Party — he has left”. They said his Unite union membership meant he would retain “affiliated” status, however.
After Mr Corbyn became party leader in 2015, Mr Walker published news stories and interviews designed to boost support for the Islington North MP. During this period it became clear that he was being briefed by sources connected to Mr Corbyn and to the leadership of the Unite union.
Mr Corbyn’s chief of staff Karie Murphy regularly shared Mr Walker’s stories on social media. Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey recently claimed his union would be “looking to support” alternative outlets such as Skwawkbox.
But Mr Walker often sparked anger with his interventions over Labour’s antisemitism crisis. There was regular outrage over the blog’s false reports, such as one in which he claimed the government had prevented the publication of the true Grenfell death toll, for which he later apologised.
In 2018, Mr Walker was reported to the Labour Party after he shared an article on the Skwawkbox Twitter account which was titled, “The Jewish ‘War Against Corbyn’ risks bringing real antisemitism to Britain”.
His tweet described the article as “pertinent and frightening”. Skwawkbox later deleted the tweet.
Also in 2018, he published an article on the website that attempted to pour scorn on former MP Luciana Berger after she received protection outside the venue of Labour’s party conference that year.
Last year the founder of the Momentum organisation Jon Lansman accused Mr Walker’s website of the “damaging the interests of the left.” In January 2019 former Labour MP Anna Turley sued Unite and Mr Walker for libel over a 2017 article that appeared on the blog.
In the High Court, Ms Turley was awarded damages of £75,000 after judge Mr Justice Nicklin found that there were “no reasonable grounds to suspect [Turley] of any form of dishonesty in relation to her joining Unite Community”.
The judge also directly criticised Mr Walker’s journalism.
Mr Walker, a father of two, is the sales director and CEO of a company called Foojit, which provides mailing solutions to the NHS.
The JC has been shown complaints sent to the Labour Party about Mr Walker including one which alleged “bullying, harassment and intimidation”. A second source also made allegations relating to him about sexism.
Another party source said that Mr Walker had “walked” from the party ahead of possible disciplinary action being taken.
The JC has repeatedly contacted Mr Walker for comment. A receptionist at his firm Foojit twice confirmed that they had “told him to call you again”.
RABBI DANNY Rich is to once again host a “Liberation Seder” for the fringe group Jewish Voice For Labour – which has gained notoriety for consistently defending Jeremy Corbyn over antisemitism allegations.
The former Liberal Judaism chief executive has agreed to preside over the group’s “Daring To Dream” evening on Zoom, which promises “participants from Britain, Palestine and Israel”. Rabbi Rich has repeatedly sparked anger over his connections to JVL, for whom he hosted a similar Seder event last year, shortly after standing down as Liberal Judaism head.
The rabbi told the JC: “If I am asked to teach at a Seder I do not usually ask for the views of everyone present on a wide variety of matters. Equally my participation in an event does not mean I agree with any of the views of persons who might attend.
“Above all, I always welcome the ‘wicked child’ who attends the Seder – a theme with which your readers will be familiar.”
JVL has recently sided with the University of Bristol’s Professor David Miller, despite his controversial comments about Jewish students. A statement on the JVL website said Prof Miller was being “being vilified and attacked for his views and criticisms
JVL event: Rabbi Dany Rich of Zionism”. JVL media officer Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi was suspended from Labour last December after the JC revealed she had criticised General Secretary David Evans’ move to protect Jewish members of the party by banning the discussion of pro-Corbyn motions and the EHRC report into antisemitism in the party at meetings. In 2019 the JC revealed Rabbi Rich had invited former Labour leader Mr Corbyn to his home for Friday night dinner. First Seder night is on Saturday, March 27.