This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44853391

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Labour MPs want new anti-Semitism code Chief rabbi: Labour should toughen up anti-Semitism code
(about 5 hours later)
Labour MPs have voted overwhelmingly to back a call for the party to change the way it defines anti-Semitism. The chief rabbi has said Labour will be "on the wrong side" of the fight against racism unless it toughens up its anti-Semitism code of conduct.
The Parliamentary Labour Party backed a motion to adopt in full the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of anti-Semitism. Ephraim Mirvis said Labour's anti-Semitism definition sent "an unprecedented message of contempt to the Jewish community".
Labour has recently adopted a new code of conduct, which has been criticised by some MPs and Jewish groups. Labour has defended its new code as the most "comprehensive" of any party.
Labour had called it the most "detailed and comprehensive" code of any party. However, Labour MPs have overwhelmingly backed calls to broaden their party's definition of anti-Semitism.
Labour's code, which was approved by a sub-committee of its National Executive Committee earlier this month, was drawn up following the 2016 Chakrabarti inquiry into anti-Semitism. The MPs backed a motion to adopt in full the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism.
It does endorse the IHRA's working definition of anti-Semitism and includes behaviours it lists as likely to be regarded as anti-Semitic - but critics point out that it leaves out four examples from that definition: Labour's code, which was approved by a sub-committee of its National Executive Committee (NEC) earlier this month, was drawn up following the 2016 Chakrabarti inquiry into anti-Semitism.
However, Labour insists these four issues are addressed in their guidelines. The NEC is now expected to rubber-stamp the new code when it meets on Tuesday.
The code does endorse the IHRA's working definition of anti-Semitism and includes behaviours it lists as likely to be regarded as anti-Semitic - but critics point out that it leaves out four examples from that definition:
Chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis attacked the omission of these examples and said it was "astonishing that the Labour Party presumes it is more qualified" to define anti-Semitism than the Jewish community.
"Adoption of Labour's new alternative to the internationally accepted IHRA definition will send an unprecedented message of contempt to the Jewish community," he added.
In a letter to members of Labour's ruling committee he said this was "a watershed moment" for the party and urged them to "make the right decision for Britain".
However, Labour insists the four examples are addressed in their guidelines.
"These are the most detailed and comprehensive guidelines on anti-Semitism adopted by any political party in this country," the party said."These are the most detailed and comprehensive guidelines on anti-Semitism adopted by any political party in this country," the party said.
"They adopt the IHRA definition and contextualise and add to the working examples to produce a practical code of conduct that a political party can apply in disciplinary cases.""They adopt the IHRA definition and contextualise and add to the working examples to produce a practical code of conduct that a political party can apply in disciplinary cases."
The vote taken at the Parliamentary Labour Party meeting is not binding on the party.The vote taken at the Parliamentary Labour Party meeting is not binding on the party.