Manuel Cortes [Image: Getty].

Is it because someone might write a polite rebuttal of his comments, pointing out the falsehoods and misunderstandings in them?

Firstly, why does he consider Ms Walker to hold anti-Semitic views? She is Jewish herself, let us remember.

She questioned the definition of anti-Semitism put forward at a Jewish Labour Movement training day because it used a discredited definition of anti-Semitism that attempts to combine the political state of Israel with Zionism and suggests that opposition to the actions of the first and the behaviour of those who identify with the second is somehow anti-Semitic.

What about the fact that the Jewish Labour Movement smuggled a camera into this ‘safe space’ in order to pass prejudicial footage out to the right-wing press. Was that all right, then?

Yes, Ms Walker criticised Holocaust Memorial Day because it does not acknowledge genocidal events prior to World War II. Is that criticism not justified? Or has Mr Cortes not looked into it?

As for security at Jewish schools – I remain confused. Is this a reference to a situation here in the UK? If so, why was Ms Walker’s comment about security at her child’s school countered with a comment about IS attacking a school in Toulouse which, unless I am mistaken, is in France?

It seems Mr Cortes made his comments without full knowledge of the facts of the situation – and LabourList posted its article in a similar state of blissful ignorance.

Perhaps both could research their subject a little better before adding their threats to the persecution of someone who might – just might – have a point.

The vice-chair of Momentum is today under increasing pressure to quit after a major trade union backer of the Corbynite group expressed its disgust at her comments about Holocaust Memorial Day.

The head of transport union TSSA described Jackie Walker’s views as “abhorrent” after she criticised the annual day of remembrance , questioned the need for security at Jewish schools and said she had not found a definition of anti-Semitism she could “work with”,

Jackie Walker, who has vigorously denied claims of anti-Semitism, has apologised but faces a fight to retain her role at Momentum.

Last night Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the TSSA, called for swift action against Walker and threatened to pull his union’s support for Momentum if they kept her in place.

“I am deeply saddened that a fellow member of our Labour and trade union family holds such anti-Semitic views,” Cortes said.

“Jeremy rightly spoke of the urgent need for our Party to unite so we can take on the Tories. Frankly, I can’t think we can do this when people who holds such abhorrent racist views are allowed to remain active within our Party.

“I am asking Jackie that in the interests of unity she resigns at once from our Party and also as vice-chair if Momentum. If she doesn’t, both the Labour Party and Momentum need to act to get rid of her at once. Furthermore, TSSA will seriously reconsider our union’s support for Momentum if she is still in post by this time next week.”

Source: Walker must quit over Holocaust comments, union boss tells Momentum | LabourList

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