Momentum admits Labour anti-Semitism problem 'more widespread than thought'
2 min read
Powerful left-wing campaign group Momentum has admitted that Labour's anti-Semitism problem is "more widespread" than previously thought.
Momentum chiefs have said there is an “unconscious bias” within the Labour party that has only been revealed in the past few months.
The 26 members of the group’s national coordinating body said in a statement that it was working with third party organisations to create bespoke training for Labour members charged with anti-Semitism as it accused the party of “failing to deal with them in a sufficiently decisive, swift and transparent manner”.
In the statement they conceded that the problem was not limited to a few “bad apples”.
The group said: “Current examples of anti-Semitism within the Labour party are not only a problem of a few, extreme ‘bad apples’, but also of unconscious bias, which manifests itself in varied, nuanced and subtle ways and is more widespread in the Labour party than many of us had understood even a few months ago.”
It also acknowledged "the anger, upset and despair within the British Jewish community at the numerous cases of anti-Semitism in the Labour party”.
And added that “accusations of anti-Semitism should not and cannot be dismissed simply as right-wing smears nor as the result of conspiracies”.
However, the group also accused political opponents of using the crisis to undermine Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, but said that this did not reduce their responsibility "to challenge anti-Semitism whenever and wherever it occurs”.
The remark echoes claims made by former National Executive Committee member and Momentum founder Christine Shawcroft, who had said in a Facebook post that the “whole row is being stirred up at attack Jeremy”.
Ms Shawcroft quit Labour's ruling NEC last week after it was revealed that she had defended Labour candidate, Alan Bull, who posted an article claiming the Holocaust was a hoax.
Momentum said it would be taking the opportunity to review its own internal processes as a “practical commitment to stamping out anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination".
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