Action urged on anti-semitism

A Labour official in the constituency with the largest Jewish population in Scotland has demanded the party adopts the internationallyrecognised definition of antisemitism.

Ben Procter, chair of Eastwood Labour, made the demand after the UK party’s national executive committee refused to adopt in full the International Holocaust Memorial Alliance’s guide- lines on identifying anti-jewish abuse.

In a letter to Cathy Peattie, Scottish Labour’s executive committee chair, Mr Procter said members had phoned him in tears after the decision. Instead, Labour has adopted its own examples of what constitutes anti-semitism alongside the IHRA definition, while agreeing to consult with the Jewish community.

In his letter. Mr Procter said the decision was an “insult”. “If we did not listen when the Jewish community across Britain spoke with a united voice last time, why should they believe us or even engage with us on an exercise that has already been deemed by many to be nothing more than false platitudes and window dressing?” he said.

“Where there is inaction on a UK level, we in Scotland have a duty to act.”

Scottishtoryadamtomkins said Jeremy Corbyn’s “failure to stamp out anti-semitism in his party was “shameful” and urged Scottish leader Richard Leonard to act.