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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/sep/05/labour-votes-full-antisemitism-ihra-terms-party-standing-orders
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Labour votes for full antisemitism terms in standing orders | Labour votes for full antisemitism terms in standing orders |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Labour MPs have voted by a substantial majority of 205 to eight to adopt the full version of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism into their own standing orders. | Labour MPs have voted by a substantial majority of 205 to eight to adopt the full version of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism into their own standing orders. |
| The overwhelming result of the secret ballot of the party’s MPs came a day after the party’s ruling body adopted the IHRA definition in full. | The overwhelming result of the secret ballot of the party’s MPs came a day after the party’s ruling body adopted the IHRA definition in full. |
| But there was surprise in some quarters of the party that as many as eight MPs had voted against adopting the full IHRA definition and examples into the parliamentary Labour party’s standing orders . | But there was surprise in some quarters of the party that as many as eight MPs had voted against adopting the full IHRA definition and examples into the parliamentary Labour party’s standing orders . |
| The timing of the vote had been intended to put pressure on the national executive committee when it met on Tuesday to agree to the demand of Jewish community organisations to adopt IHRA in full, in an attempt to draw a line under the party’s antisemitism row. | The timing of the vote had been intended to put pressure on the national executive committee when it met on Tuesday to agree to the demand of Jewish community organisations to adopt IHRA in full, in an attempt to draw a line under the party’s antisemitism row. |
| However, after the NEC adopted the code in full the MPs’ vote became largely symbolic. A further 12 MPs of the party’s 257 spoiled their papers in a ballot that was open throughout the day. | However, after the NEC adopted the code in full the MPs’ vote became largely symbolic. A further 12 MPs of the party’s 257 spoiled their papers in a ballot that was open throughout the day. |
| Labour said it did not comment on how Jeremy Corbyn voted in such ballots although party sources added that the leader had supported the NEC decision to adopt the IHRA code with all 11 examples on Tuesday, which covered all members of the party, including its MPs. | Labour said it did not comment on how Jeremy Corbyn voted in such ballots although party sources added that the leader had supported the NEC decision to adopt the IHRA code with all 11 examples on Tuesday, which covered all members of the party, including its MPs. |
| In that meeting the NEC also decided not to accept a longer (page and a half) clarification putby Corbyn to the meeting personally. Instead, after it became clear there was a full spectrum of views among NEC members ranging from not adopting IHRA at all through to adopting it without any accompanying statement, the leader’s document was welcomed as an important part of the party consultation on its code of conduct. | In that meeting the NEC also decided not to accept a longer (page and a half) clarification putby Corbyn to the meeting personally. Instead, after it became clear there was a full spectrum of views among NEC members ranging from not adopting IHRA at all through to adopting it without any accompanying statement, the leader’s document was welcomed as an important part of the party consultation on its code of conduct. |
| The most contentious part of the clarification read out by Corbyn said: “Nor should it be regarded as antisemitic to describe Israel, its policies or the circumstances around its foundation as racist because of their discriminatory impact, or to support another settlement of the Israel-Palestine conflict.” | The most contentious part of the clarification read out by Corbyn said: “Nor should it be regarded as antisemitic to describe Israel, its policies or the circumstances around its foundation as racist because of their discriminatory impact, or to support another settlement of the Israel-Palestine conflict.” |
| On Wednesday, some MPs complained that Corbyn’s statement undermined the decision to sign up to IHRA in full. The backbench MP Margaret Hodge, a critic of Corbyn, said that had the additional clarification been adopted by the body it would have been “viewed by them as racist”. | On Wednesday, some MPs complained that Corbyn’s statement undermined the decision to sign up to IHRA in full. The backbench MP Margaret Hodge, a critic of Corbyn, said that had the additional clarification been adopted by the body it would have been “viewed by them as racist”. |
| Hodge told the BBC that Corbyn should not have proposed his clarification because if it had been accepted it would have “offended deeply the Jewish community”. She urged the Labour party leader to “start rebuilding trust” and act to heal the wounds caused by the antisemitism row. | Hodge told the BBC that Corbyn should not have proposed his clarification because if it had been accepted it would have “offended deeply the Jewish community”. She urged the Labour party leader to “start rebuilding trust” and act to heal the wounds caused by the antisemitism row. |
| However, Shami Chakrabarti, the shadow attorney general, said it was time for Labour to come together. She said to Hodge, other Jewish community leaders and anyone else who had been hurt by the row, that this was “the time to come back into the room for discussion”. | However, Shami Chakrabarti, the shadow attorney general, said it was time for Labour to come together. She said to Hodge, other Jewish community leaders and anyone else who had been hurt by the row, that this was “the time to come back into the room for discussion”. |
| Lady Chakrabarti told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme she hoped there now could be reasonable debate on the subject: “We have accepted these [11 IHRA] examples. It took so long because of genuine anxieties – however misplaced – about free speech on one of the most intractable problems in the world. Come back into the room. I will open the door. I will put the kettle on. But come back into the room because it’s time for reasonable debate.” | Lady Chakrabarti told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme she hoped there now could be reasonable debate on the subject: “We have accepted these [11 IHRA] examples. It took so long because of genuine anxieties – however misplaced – about free speech on one of the most intractable problems in the world. Come back into the room. I will open the door. I will put the kettle on. But come back into the room because it’s time for reasonable debate.” |
| Claudia Webbe, an NEC member, who chaired the discussion on antisemitism, said Corbyn's statement was not an attempt to alter the meaning of the IHRA definition and was never proposed as a formal addition. | Claudia Webbe, an NEC member, who chaired the discussion on antisemitism, said Corbyn's statement was not an attempt to alter the meaning of the IHRA definition and was never proposed as a formal addition. |
| “There wasn’t a notion that the NEC should endorse Jeremy's statement, this is wrong and has been taken out of context by the media. Jeremy's statement made an important contribution. When I proposed that we welcome Jeremy's statement there was great support in the room. He has demonstrated his commitment to resolving this very important issue,” she said. | “There wasn’t a notion that the NEC should endorse Jeremy's statement, this is wrong and has been taken out of context by the media. Jeremy's statement made an important contribution. When I proposed that we welcome Jeremy's statement there was great support in the room. He has demonstrated his commitment to resolving this very important issue,” she said. |
| Wes Streeting, a Labour backbencher, struck an emollient tone, saying there was now “overwhelming consensus in support of the IHRA definition” following the MPs’ vote and NEC decision. “We have a clear framework to act against antisemitism cases within our party, which in no way prevents us from making the strident and necessary criticisms of the appalling policies of the Israeli government towards the Palestinians.” | Wes Streeting, a Labour backbencher, struck an emollient tone, saying there was now “overwhelming consensus in support of the IHRA definition” following the MPs’ vote and NEC decision. “We have a clear framework to act against antisemitism cases within our party, which in no way prevents us from making the strident and necessary criticisms of the appalling policies of the Israeli government towards the Palestinians.” |
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| Margaret Hodge | Margaret Hodge |
| Shami Chakrabarti | Shami Chakrabarti |
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