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| Labour suspends NEC member over antisemitism claims | Labour suspends NEC member over antisemitism claims |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Labour has suspended a controversial member of its ruling national executive committee after he was recorded claiming that an Israeli agent had infiltrated the party. | Labour has suspended a controversial member of its ruling national executive committee after he was recorded claiming that an Israeli agent had infiltrated the party. |
| Pete Willsman, a left-leaning member of Labour’s governing body, was recorded claiming that the Jewish state was behind some of the antisemitism claims that have engulfed the party, and that Labour members opposed to Jeremy Corbyn were working indirectly for the Israeli embassy. | Pete Willsman, a left-leaning member of Labour’s governing body, was recorded claiming that the Jewish state was behind some of the antisemitism claims that have engulfed the party, and that Labour members opposed to Jeremy Corbyn were working indirectly for the Israeli embassy. |
| In a recording first disclosed by the radio station LBC, Willsman said: “It’s almost certain who is behind all this antisemitism against Jeremy: almost certainly, it was the Israeli embassy. | In a recording first disclosed by the radio station LBC, Willsman said: “It’s almost certain who is behind all this antisemitism against Jeremy: almost certainly, it was the Israeli embassy. |
| “They caught somebody in the Labour party who it turns out is an agent in the embassy.” | “They caught somebody in the Labour party who it turns out is an agent in the embassy.” |
| A Labour party spokeswoman said: “Peter Willsman has been suspended from the Labour party, pending investigation.” | A Labour party spokeswoman said: “Peter Willsman has been suspended from the Labour party, pending investigation.” |
| The suspension letter was sent to Willsman earlier this morning. He cannot attend NEC meetings or perform any other functions, sources confirmed. | |
| According to LBC, Willsman made the comments in January when he met theAmerican-Israeli author Tuvia Tenenbom, who was in the UK to write a book about the British and was seeking an interview with Corbyn. Tenenbom recorded the conversation. | According to LBC, Willsman made the comments in January when he met theAmerican-Israeli author Tuvia Tenenbom, who was in the UK to write a book about the British and was seeking an interview with Corbyn. Tenenbom recorded the conversation. |
| Tenenbom pressed Willsman for proof the Israeli embassy was directing attacks against the Labour party. In comments Willsman said were “off the record”, he said: “The people that are in the Labour party doing it are people who are linked. One of them works indirectly with the embassy. So obviously, I wouldn’t be bothered to find out, but my guess would be they are the ones whipping it up all the time.” | Tenenbom pressed Willsman for proof the Israeli embassy was directing attacks against the Labour party. In comments Willsman said were “off the record”, he said: “The people that are in the Labour party doing it are people who are linked. One of them works indirectly with the embassy. So obviously, I wouldn’t be bothered to find out, but my guess would be they are the ones whipping it up all the time.” |
| Two days ago, the equalities and human rights commission launched an inquiry into antisemitism in Labour, an unprecedented move for a major UK party. NEC members such as Willsman will be responsible for responding to the investigation into allegations of institutional racism. | Two days ago, the equalities and human rights commission launched an inquiry into antisemitism in Labour, an unprecedented move for a major UK party. NEC members such as Willsman will be responsible for responding to the investigation into allegations of institutional racism. |
| Last July, Willsman claimed at an NEC meeting attended by Corbyn that some Jews were “Trump fanatics”, saying he would “not be lectured” by Jewish supporters of the US president “making up duff information without any evidence at all”. A recording of the meeting was leaked to the Jewish Chronicle. | Last July, Willsman claimed at an NEC meeting attended by Corbyn that some Jews were “Trump fanatics”, saying he would “not be lectured” by Jewish supporters of the US president “making up duff information without any evidence at all”. A recording of the meeting was leaked to the Jewish Chronicle. |
| Willsman apologised, saying he was “of course aware of appalling instances of antisemitism in the party”, that he was “wholly determined to rooting it out of our movement” and that he would undertake equality training. | Willsman apologised, saying he was “of course aware of appalling instances of antisemitism in the party”, that he was “wholly determined to rooting it out of our movement” and that he would undertake equality training. |
| Earlier Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, said Willsman should be suspended immediately following the latest allegations. He said: “The fact that a member of Labour’s governing body feels he can continue to make such offensive remarks after being warned for similar outbursts previously shows how serious the problem of antisemitism is in our party. | Earlier Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, said Willsman should be suspended immediately following the latest allegations. He said: “The fact that a member of Labour’s governing body feels he can continue to make such offensive remarks after being warned for similar outbursts previously shows how serious the problem of antisemitism is in our party. |
| “The general secretary must make good on the promise that was made following Mr Willsman’s previous outburst, that he would face disciplinary action if he engaged in similar conduct again. He must be suspended from the NEC and from party membership immediately.” | “The general secretary must make good on the promise that was made following Mr Willsman’s previous outburst, that he would face disciplinary action if he engaged in similar conduct again. He must be suspended from the NEC and from party membership immediately.” |
| Willsman has spent most of his career in Labour politics, playing a key role as a leftwinger on the NEC or fighting to get on it. He is well known in party circles but largely unfamiliar to the wider public. | Willsman has spent most of his career in Labour politics, playing a key role as a leftwinger on the NEC or fighting to get on it. He is well known in party circles but largely unfamiliar to the wider public. |
| He was part of the Grassroots Alliance slate that humiliated Tony Blair at the height of his power in 1998, winning one of four spots on the party’s ruling body at the end of a bitterly fought campaign. | He was part of the Grassroots Alliance slate that humiliated Tony Blair at the height of his power in 1998, winning one of four spots on the party’s ruling body at the end of a bitterly fought campaign. |
| Labour has been asked if it had identified an Israeli agent who had worked inside the party and whether Willsman ever received equality training. | Labour has been asked if it had identified an Israeli agent who had worked inside the party and whether Willsman ever received equality training. |
| The party’s response to the recording will be closely scrutinised amid a row over the decision to exclude Tony Blair’s former spin doctor Alastair Campbell for saying he voted for the Liberal Democrats in the European elections. | The party’s response to the recording will be closely scrutinised amid a row over the decision to exclude Tony Blair’s former spin doctor Alastair Campbell for saying he voted for the Liberal Democrats in the European elections. |
| Willsman has been approached for a comment. | Willsman has been approached for a comment. |
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