Anti-Semitism in the Labour Party

www.gbnews.com/politics/azhar-ali-remarks-politics-rochdale-jacob-rees-mogg

Well said , at least we’ve one politician who prepared to call out the appalling racism from the left / Labour Party

To be fair - it's not just the Labour Party. This country is increasingly anti-Semitic.
Here's a story about a Jew being abused for not standing up for the Palestinian flag. www.theguardian.com/news/2024/feb/12/soho-theatre-apologises-after-comedian-abused-jewish-audience-member
Jewish people are scared to go into central London. Jesus Christ - they better not step foot in Bethnal Green or Tower Hamlets.
Right of center Politicians are being abused - and killed in the David Amiss case,
Jews are being abused in the street,
The Judiciary are happy to allow pro-Hamas / anti-Israeli protests,
Jewish celebrations are being banned (this one survived after a public uproar)
news.sky.com/story/havering-council-scraps-hanukkah-menorah-outside-town-hall-due-to-rising-tensions-13019114
This one didn't: www.standard.co.uk/news/london/hounslow-council-cancel-jewish-living-experience-exhibition-safety-gaza-israel-london-b1125529.html
Even the Epping Hanukkah menorah was vandalised.
Think you'll get a job at the BBC if you aren't signed up for the Palestinian cause? Jews need not apply for the position.
It's all so very very very 1930's Germany.
The frothing at the mouth socialists must be so proud of themselves.

Third senior Labour politician 'spoken to' over meeting at centre of anti-semitism row

POLITICS
LABOUR
KEIR STARMER

Wednesday 14 February 2024 at 6:03pm



Graham Jones (left), Azhar Ali (centre) and Munsif Dad (right) are facing serious questions over the meeting they attended at which the alleged comments were made, as ITV News Political Correspondent Libby Wiener explains

A third senior Labour politician attended a meeting at the centre of an anti-semitism row within the party, ITV News understands, as Sir Keir Starmer continues to come under pressure over his handling of the allegations.

Munsif Dad, Labour group leader of Hyndburn Council, was one of three community representatives at the meeting at which former Rochdale by-election candidate, Azhar Ali, and another candidate, Graham Jones, are alleged to have made comments against Israel.

ITV News understands Mr Dad was "spoken to" by Labour officials.

Former Hyndburn MP, Mr Jones, was suspended on Tuesday and it is understood he was called to an interview that evening with party officials.

Audio obtained by website Guido Fawkes, appeared to show the former Labour MP use the words “f****** Israel”, while also allegedly suggesting that British people who volunteer to fight with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) should be “locked up”.

His suspension came less than 24 hours after Labour withdrew its backing for Mr Ali's candidacy in the Rochdale by-election - a move that leaves the party in a highly unusual position with no time to put forward an alternative candidate.

Mr Ali was suspended after he was recorded suggesting in the same meeting in Hyndburn that Israel had allowed Hamas to attack on October 7 as a pretext to invade Gaza, and allegedly complained about the influence of "certain Jewish quarters" in the media.

It is not yet known if the remarks by Mr Ali and Mr Jones went unchallenged at the community meeting.


Another Labour prospective candidate suspended after anti-Israel comments

Rochdale: What next for Labour and why can't it replace by-election candidate?
Mike Katz, the national chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, told ITV News all who were present at the meeting and did not call out the "awful" comments "should all be treated in the same way" and be suspended pending investigation.

“It isn’t just about people who spread repugnant conspiracy theories about Israel or anti-semitic tropes, it’s about people who are in the room and don’t call it out," he said.

"That might have been a private forum but the next day it’s a public forum... and that does real damage."

He said elected officials have a “responsibility” to “promote community cohesion… not to pit communities against each other, not to speak hate or tolerate people who do speak hate”.

Mr Katz admitted it was not Labour's "finest hour, but he added: "The way the party has reacted under Keir Starmer’s leadership to tear out anti-semitisim - the difference between where the party is today and where it was under Jeremy Corbyn is like night and day. And it’s ludicrous to suggest because of the events in Rochdale there’s not been that improvement."


Azhar Ali will now stand as an independent MP at the by-election.
Credit: PA
Dame Louise Ellman, who rejoined Labour after quitting over Mr Corbyn’s handling of anti-semitism, agreed the party has "changed dramatically since Sir Keir Starmer became leader" but told ITV News there should be "greater scrutiny of prospective candidates" and that Mr Jones is "not fit to be a Labour MP" following his "outrageous statements".

Shadow defence secretary, John Healey, when asked by BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether the party would suspend Mr Dad, said: “I don’t know why he was at the meeting.”

“This is not a party of people who are saints," he added. "When people do things that may be wrong, say things that may be unacceptable, the important thing is how does the party respond."

He insisted that Labour does conduct "strong checks" on prospective MPs “but you can’t see everything everywhere".

Sir Keir said on Tuesday that any allegations against other Labour councillors present at the event at which Mr Ali and Mr Jones allegedly made their remarks would be “fully investigated by the party”.

Former Labour MP Ed Balls told ITV's Good Morning Britain that he believes Mr Jones and Mr Ali had been told to go to the meeting to reassure the community that they were being listened to.

He said it is "untrue" to describe Mr Jones or his comments as anti-semitic.

"Azhar Ali said a terrible thing – an anti-semitic thing," said Mr Balls. “Graham Jones - I know him really well - was an MP. He is not a Corbynite, not hard left, and absolutely not anti Israel. In fact, if anything on the other side of that argument, he’s very, very deeply embedded and knowledgeable about the military."

Tories have kicked out Atiqul Hoque for making anti semitic statements,however he will continue as mayor of Salisbury as an independent.
I dont understand how all these people can be making anti semitic statements and not being charged with using racist language ?

My party??😂😂😂

How many times, GB News is not credible. It's only you, a hermit on the Yorkshire Moors and a dog in Snowdonia that watches or listens to it.

The analytical competence is equivalent amongst the three of you.

Whistle?? Woof woof🐈🐈

Keep up trymer. Racism is abhorrent and will not be tolerated.
Unless it's anti-semitic.
That's just dandy.

I think that multi cultural society only works when everything is running smoothly, a war in the Middle east causes problems here...even a cricket match  caused rioting in Birmingham and Leicester between muslims and hindus.
If a full on war between India and Pakistan ever happens some of the battles would be fought in Britain.

We hear the phrase 'a lack of community cohesion' but a lot of people in different 'groups' (usually religious ) havent got on for centuries,it isnt that Britain is somehow racist,in fact I cant think of a more tolerant country and theres enough people  coming here on dinghies to prove it !

Anti Semitism is real racism alright, absolutely. Just another form of racism in the UK that most of this forum blew a gasket over when a couple of us argued that racism was alive and well in the UK.

But developing the point, are expressions of Anti Zionism, racist?

Potentially if poorly argued and considered (which is what Israeli government will always claim).

But if the Anti Zionist argument is predicated upon actual actions and policy, that is not racist, in my view and we shouldn't lose sight of that. A lot of the jumping up and down over the comments on Social Media by a couple of very silly people is just hysteria promoted by a section of the media to bottom feed.
This point is the problem in the Labour Party. There are many anti Zionists in that party, including many who would define themselves as Jews. But it gets defined anti semitic which is why it gets shut down.

The parallel view of course is if anti Zionism is not highlighted then we allow, turn a blind eye to, what has been going in the middle east since 1967 (and before in reality)

Then the powder keg explodes, which is where we are today.

Actions/Non Actions, and consequences. Twas always thus.