EXCL Labour failed to act for 10 days over member who called for 'march on synagogue'
2 min read
Labour took nearly two weeks to launch an investigation into a party member who called for a "march" on a synagogue.
Amanda Bishop was suspended by the party on Monday after her comments to a private Facebook group emerged.
Reacting to the suspension of a fellow member of the Brighton and Hove Labour branch for sharing allegedly anti-semitic posts on social media, Ms Bishop said: "We can't allow this to go on. We need to march about this on the synagogue in Hove, all of us members in Brighton."
PoliticsHome has learned that a local party member reported the comments to Labour's Compliance Unit on 16 April.
It is understood the Brighton and Hove Council's community safety team was also informed, leading to increased security outside local synagogues during Passover.
On 25 April, the member emailed the party again asking why no action had yet been taken, copying in General Secretary Jennie Formby.
The following day, the complainer received an email from Ms Formby's office informing them that the case had been passed to the Compliance Unit "as a matter of urgency".
After Ms Bishop's comments were revealed by the Guido Fawkes website, Labour sources confirmed that she had been suspended pending an investigation.
A spokesperson said: "The Labour party takes all complaints of anti-semitism extremely seriously and we are committed to challenging and campaigning against it in all its forms.
"All complaints about anti-semitism are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken."
But Euan Philipps, spokesperson for Labour Against Anti-semitism said: "It appears the Labour party were informed two weeks ago of the reported threat by a Labour member to arrange a march on a synagogue in Brighton, yet no action was taken.
"Given that last weekend Jews in the US were murdered in an attack on a synagogue, we have to wonder what it will take before this is taken seriously. The Labour party seem to be playing fast and loose with the safety of British citizens, a situation that cannot be allowed to continue."
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