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Labour agrees to fresh antisemitism consultation after stormy debate Labour agrees to fresh antisemitism consultation after stormy debate
(35 minutes later)
Labour’s ruling national executive committee (NEC) has decided to hold a fresh consultation over the party’s new code of conduct on antisemitism after a stormy three-hour debate.Labour’s ruling national executive committee (NEC) has decided to hold a fresh consultation over the party’s new code of conduct on antisemitism after a stormy three-hour debate.
The party provoked anger in the Jewish community and across the parliamentary Labour party this month by adopting a new code of conduct that failed to include all the examples of antisemitism listed alongside the internationally accepted International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition.The party provoked anger in the Jewish community and across the parliamentary Labour party this month by adopting a new code of conduct that failed to include all the examples of antisemitism listed alongside the internationally accepted International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition.
MPs had put intense pressure on the NEC to change course. At the fraught meeting on Tuesday, proposals to overturn the decision, made by an NEC subcommittee, were rejected, with the chair, Andy Kerr, reportedly refusing to take a vote. Labour MPs had put intense pressure on the NEC to change course. At the fraught meeting on Tuesday, proposals to overturn the decision, made by an NEC subcommittee, were rejected, with the chair, Andy Kerr, reportedly refusing to take a vote.
But in a compromise measure, the committee agreed to reopen consultations about the code of conduct over the summer and encourage the Jewish community to take part.But in a compromise measure, the committee agreed to reopen consultations about the code of conduct over the summer and encourage the Jewish community to take part.
Sources said the atmosphere was tense at the meeting and that one member, Pete Willsman, had upset others by asking for a show of hands of who believed there was antisemitism in the party. The Labour MP Keith Vaz also expressed strong opposition to changing the party’s current position, sources said.Sources said the atmosphere was tense at the meeting and that one member, Pete Willsman, had upset others by asking for a show of hands of who believed there was antisemitism in the party. The Labour MP Keith Vaz also expressed strong opposition to changing the party’s current position, sources said.
The campaign group Labour Against Antisemitism condemned the NEC’s failure to go further and overturn the code of conduct.The campaign group Labour Against Antisemitism condemned the NEC’s failure to go further and overturn the code of conduct.
“The message sent by the NEC is loud and clear: the Labour movement has lost its moral compass, appears to have an institutional antisemitism issue and can no longer claim to represent the values of solidarity, justice and equality.”“The message sent by the NEC is loud and clear: the Labour movement has lost its moral compass, appears to have an institutional antisemitism issue and can no longer claim to represent the values of solidarity, justice and equality.”
Its spokesman Euan Philipps said: “It is now up to those Labour MPs who supported the IHRA definition at Monday’s PLP meeting to examine their consciences and decide whether they can continue to support this Labour leadership.”Its spokesman Euan Philipps said: “It is now up to those Labour MPs who supported the IHRA definition at Monday’s PLP meeting to examine their consciences and decide whether they can continue to support this Labour leadership.”
The row centres on Labour’s new code of conduct for dealing with antisemitism, where the party has agreed to adopt the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, but does not include all the examples set out by the body.The row centres on Labour’s new code of conduct for dealing with antisemitism, where the party has agreed to adopt the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, but does not include all the examples set out by the body.
The examples removed from the IHRA definition include accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel than their own nations, claiming that the existence of the state of Israel is a racist endeavour and comparing Israeli actions with those of the Nazis.The examples removed from the IHRA definition include accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel than their own nations, claiming that the existence of the state of Israel is a racist endeavour and comparing Israeli actions with those of the Nazis.
Labour has argued that those examples that have been removed were already covered in the wider new code of conduct, but claimed some of the original examples needed clarification to be used by a political party and to avoid stifling debate, particularly on Israel and Palestine.Labour has argued that those examples that have been removed were already covered in the wider new code of conduct, but claimed some of the original examples needed clarification to be used by a political party and to avoid stifling debate, particularly on Israel and Palestine.
A Labour party spokesperson said: “The NEC upheld the adoption of the code of conduct on antisemitism, but in recognition of the serious concerns expressed, agreed to reopen the development of the code, in consultation with Jewish community organisations and groups, in order to better reflect their views.”A Labour party spokesperson said: “The NEC upheld the adoption of the code of conduct on antisemitism, but in recognition of the serious concerns expressed, agreed to reopen the development of the code, in consultation with Jewish community organisations and groups, in order to better reflect their views.”
MPs had demanded a change of heart at a private meeting on Monday night, arguing that the full definition is widely used, including by the Crown Prosecution Service, the Scottish parliament, the Welsh assembly and 124 local authorities. Labour MPs had demanded a change of heart at a private meeting on Monday night, arguing that the full definition is widely used, including by the Crown Prosecution Service, the Scottish parliament, the Welsh assembly and 124 local authorities.
The MPs voted overwhelmingly to back a motion, proposed by two Jewish MPs, Luciana Berger and Alex Sobel, that the parliamentary Labour party should adopt the definition and urging the NEC to follow suit.The MPs voted overwhelmingly to back a motion, proposed by two Jewish MPs, Luciana Berger and Alex Sobel, that the parliamentary Labour party should adopt the definition and urging the NEC to follow suit.
Berger said that “any attempt to tinker, water down, or otherwise amend it must be resisted” and said the NEC must rethink.Berger said that “any attempt to tinker, water down, or otherwise amend it must be resisted” and said the NEC must rethink.
Four Labour MPs opposed the motion, including Richard Burden, who had earlier written to colleagues saying some of the IHRA examples “can be and are used to suppress debate over Israel and Palestine”.Four Labour MPs opposed the motion, including Richard Burden, who had earlier written to colleagues saying some of the IHRA examples “can be and are used to suppress debate over Israel and Palestine”.
The row was further fuelled overnight when an unprecedented alliance of 68 rabbis from across the spectrum, ultra orthodox to liberal, signed a letter to the Guardian calling on the party to engage with the community on the issue.The row was further fuelled overnight when an unprecedented alliance of 68 rabbis from across the spectrum, ultra orthodox to liberal, signed a letter to the Guardian calling on the party to engage with the community on the issue.
However, ahead of the meeting on Tuesday, a coalition of 36 international Jewish anti-Zionist groups signed a letter of opposition, calling the IHRA definition a “distorted definition of antisemitism to stifle criticism of Israel”.However, ahead of the meeting on Tuesday, a coalition of 36 international Jewish anti-Zionist groups signed a letter of opposition, calling the IHRA definition a “distorted definition of antisemitism to stifle criticism of Israel”.
Six UK groups have signed the statement, including Jewish Voice for Labour and Jews for Justice for Palestinians, as well as the US-based Jewish Voice for Peace.Six UK groups have signed the statement, including Jewish Voice for Labour and Jews for Justice for Palestinians, as well as the US-based Jewish Voice for Peace.
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