Momentum admits anti-Semitism is a bigger problem in Labour than it realised

The left-wing group Momentum has come to Jeremy Corbyn’s aid by admitting anti-Semitism is a major problem for Labour and claiming complaints about it cannot be dismissed as right-wing smears.

In a move aimed at cooling a bitter row raging in the party, Momentum’s National Coordinating Group (NCG) said Jewish people are right to be angry and Labour has failed to deal with anti-Semitism adequately.

The statement by Momentum, led by the veteran left-wing activist Jon Lansman, who is Jewish, will be welcomed by Mr Corbyn as he faces criticism from MPs over his handling of the anti-Semitism row.

Many of the dozens of Labour MPs who attended a Jewish protest rally in Parliament Square a week ago are now facing calls for their deselection from left-wing activists in their constituencies.

:: Top donor quits Labour over anti-Semitism row

In its highly-significant statement, Momentum said it “acknowledges the anger, upset and despair within the British Jewish community at the numerous cases of anti-Semitism in the Labour party”.

The group also said it was disappointed in the party’s “failure to date to deal with them in a sufficiently decisive, swift and transparent manner”.

And equally importantly, the statement went on: “Accusations of anti-Semitism should not and cannot be dismissed simply as right-wing smears nor as the result of conspiracies.

“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.”

:: Corbyn tells Jewish community: I’m your ally

Momentum also said while Mr Corbyn’s opponents were “opportunistically using this issue as a way to undermine his leadership”, this did not reduce the need to challenge anti-Semitism.

During a day of local election campaigning in the West Midlands, Mr Corbyn – likely aware of the helpful Momentum statement – said he would not tolerate any anti-Semitism in the Labour Party.

He told Channel 4 News: “There is genuine concern and we are dealing with that concern… by investigating every case that is brought to our attention.

“If the person has committed an anti-Semitic act, in any way, then they are suspended and usually expelled from the party as a result of that.

“We are not tolerating anti-Semitism in any form in the Labour Party.”

Mr Corbyn said the first task of Labour’s new general secretary, Jennie Formby, when she takes up her post this week will be to appoint an in-house lawyer to ensure that procedures for dealing with allegations of anti-Semitism are “absolutely strong and watertight”.

Earlier, a Jewish member of Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee, Rhea Wolfson, said she was frustrated at the pace of action on anti-Semitism.

And new NEC member Eddie Izzard – who replaced Momentum activist Christine Shawcroft, who quit on Saturday – told The Mirror: “We must make amends and repair the damage with the Jewish community as Jeremy Corbyn has promised to do.”

(c) Sky News 2018: Momentum admits anti-Semitism is a bigger problem in Labour than it realised