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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Chief rabbi: Labour should toughen up anti-Semitism code | Chief rabbi: Labour should toughen up anti-Semitism code |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| 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 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. |
| Ephraim Mirvis said Labour's anti-Semitism definition sent "an unprecedented message of contempt to the Jewish community". | Ephraim Mirvis said Labour's anti-Semitism definition sent "an unprecedented message of contempt to the Jewish community". |
| Labour has defended its new code as the most "comprehensive" of any party. | Labour has defended its new code as the most "comprehensive" of any party. |
| However, Labour MPs have overwhelmingly backed calls to broaden their party's definition of anti-Semitism. | However, Labour MPs have overwhelmingly backed calls to broaden their party's definition of anti-Semitism. |
| The MPs backed a motion to adopt in full the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism. | The MPs backed a motion to adopt in full the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The NEC rubber-stamped the new code when it met on Tuesday, but a Labour spokesperson added: "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." | |
| 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: | 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. | 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. | "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". | 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. | 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. |