Fiona Sharpe, spokesperson for Labour Against Antisemitism, said:
“Pete Willsman’s alleged comments that Israel is responsible
for ’s antisemitism crisis are, if
as reported on LBC this morning,
grossly offensive and unarguably antisemitic. There should be no
place for him in mainstream British politics and he should be
kicked off the Labour’s ruling body, the NEC, and out of the
.
This is not the first time Mr Willsman has reportedly made
anti-Jewish remarks. At a Labour NEC meeting in June 2018 he was
recorded accusing 68 British rabbis who had expressed concern at
Labour antisemitism of being “Trump fanatics” before going on to
suggest the rabbis were falsifying examples of antisemitism.
These comments, made in front of leading party figures
including the leader, , and the CEO of Momentum, Jon
Lansman, should have led to his immediate auto-exclusion. Not
only did they fail to act, but it is alleged that some NEC
members even supported Mr Willsman’s unfounded accusations.
In July 2018 Jennie Formby said she had "made clear [to Mr
Willsman] any repetition of similar conduct is likely to result
in formal disciplinary action", while in September 2018 the
Shadow Chancellor, , said he had given Mr
Willsman the benefit of the doubt after an apology. There can be
no such latitude given now. Acting General Secretary Karie Murphy
must make good on the promise made by her predecessor and move to
expel Mr Willsman immediately.”
END
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