Row erupts as Labour refuses to adopt internationally-recognised definition of anti-Semitism
4 min read
Labour has been hit by another anti-Semitism row after the party's ruling body dismissed calls for it to use the internationally-recognised definition of the problem.
A meeting of its National Executive Committee endorsed a new code of conduct on anti-Jewish abuse drawn up by general secretary Jennie Formby.
It means the Labour rule book does not use the full International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism, which is already adopted by the Government, the Crown Prosecution Service and more than 100 local authorities.
However, the NEC agreed to look again at adopting the IHRA guidelines in the future following talks with the Jewish community.
Nevertheless, Joan Ryan MP, chair of Labour Friends of Israel, said: "I am appalled at the NEC's decision today which, once again, undermines the claims of Labour's leadership that it intends to tackle the problem of anti-Semitism.
"The NEC has decided to prioritise the rights of those who wish to demonise and delegitimise the state of Israel over the struggle against anti-Semitism. This shameful action is antithetical to Labour's values and its history, and we will campaign relentlessly until it is overturned and the IHRA definition and all its examples are adopted by the party."
The IHRA guidelines say Jewish people should be allowed to define what constitutes anti-Semitism - something Labour's new code of conduct stops short of doing.
The new Labour code of conduct states that "contentious" comments about Israel "will not be treated as anti-Semitism unless accompanied by specific anti-Semitic content" or other evidence of "intent".
Labour MPs and peers "overwhelmingly" passing a motion at a meeting on Monday night calling for the IHRA definition to be used by the party.
Writing for PoliticsHome, Labour MP Luciana Berger said the party would "wear the stain of racism for many years to come" if it ignored their pleas.
Jewish community groups have also accused the party of ignoring their concerns, while Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said: "Adoption of Labour's new alternative to the internationally accepted IHRA definition will send an unprecedented message of contempt to the Jewish community."
Richard Angell, director of center-left pressure group, Progress, said: "It is utterly pathetic. Labour has brought shame on itself and can no longer call itself a ally to British Jews.”
At the NEC meeting, Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said: "Are we serious about winning a general election? Are we serious about dealing with anti-Semitism? If so we need to grip this issue and close it down… the people who will judge us on this are the Jewish community and rightly so."
Keith Birch of Unison said: "The Jewish community bodies have lost faith in us and will not trust us if we just push ahead and adopt the code of conduct as it stands."
But Rachel Garnham, a Momentum representative on the NEC, described the IHRA guidelines as "deeply flawed" because "they conflate criticisms of the state of Israel with anti-Semitism".
She added: "I’m proud to have a leader who has shown unswerving support for the Palestinian people.
"Because of his support for the Palestinians he will continue to be unfairly attacked as being anti-Semitic whatever we decide today."
CONTEMPTIBLE
Labour MP Wes Streeting, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for British Jews, said: "The decision of the NEC and the message it sends to Britain’s Jewish community is utterly contemptible.
"The damage it will inflict on our credibility as an anti-racist political party is the leadership’s responsibility - and theirs alone. Jeremy Corbyn and his team were warned time and time again of the devastating damage this decision would inflict on Labour’s relationship with the Jewish community.
"Those warnings were relayed directly to the NEC, not least by the Chief Rabbi. So they cannot claim to have not understood the profound consequences of this decision. It appears they simply do not care. It is impossible to imagine that Labour’s leadership would treat any other community in this way."
A Labour party spokesperson said: "The NEC upheld the adoption of the code of conduct on anti-Semitism, but in recognition of the serious concerns expressed, agreed to re-open the development of the code, in consultation with Jewish community organisations and groups, in order to better reflect their views."
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