This minority interest group is dictating RACIST membership rules to the Labour Party. Why?
Keir Starmer: he’s caught between a rock and a hard place so perhaps he’s not quite so comfortable now.
The Board of Deputies doesn’t represent all British Jews. It represents a minority of them. Yet Starmer gave it power over him and every member of the Labour Party and now it is using it…
To direct racist abuse at black, female MPs, it seems.
The BoD – led from the front by president Marie Van Der Zyl, is calling for the expulsion from Labour of Diane Abbott and Bell Ribeiro-Addy after they appeared on a Zoom discussion which also featured contributions from audience members including expelled Labour members Jackie Walker and Tony Greenstein.
According to Ms Van Der Zyl, Starmer promised to expel any party member found to be giving a platform to former members who had been expelled for anti-Semitism.
There’s just one problem – neither Ms Walker nor Mr Greenstein were expelled for anti-Semitism.
So the attack on Ms Abbott and Ms Ribeiro-Addy comes across as nothing more than pure, unadulterated racism.
And that’s not a good look for a supposedly anti-racist organisation!
Let’s see how this progressed and what people are saying about it. Here’s Ms Van Der Zyl:
.@BoDPres has urged 'swift and decision action' following reports that Labour MPs have addressed an online meeting of activists which included figures expelled from the Labour Party. Full statement: pic.twitter.com/THMq7JhewS
— Board of Deputies of British Jews (@BoardofDeputies) April 30, 2020
“It is completely unacceptable that Labour MPs, and even ordinary members, should be sharing platforms with those that have been expelled from thie Party for antisemitism. Indeed, this breaches the Board of Deputies’ Ten Pledges that Keir and the other Labour leadership contenders signed up to.”
Now consider this:
Dear @BoardofDeputies neither I nor Tony Greenstein, who are both Jewish, were expelled for antisemitism
— Jackie Walker – HRH, MP, MBE, ABC (@Jackiew80333500) April 30, 2020
Targeted harassment. This has got to be illegal? Surely? @TwitterSupport please keep an eye on this issue
— ADN Alternative Daily ‘News’ (@AdnAlternative) April 30, 2020
https://twitter.com/TheFabledAesop/status/1255895121486381070
They’re all in Tory Party, but has never ever tackled A-S in their own chosen party!
— NOT VOTING SERIAL LIAR STARMER (@xpressanny) April 30, 2020
(In fairness, we don’t know how many members of the BoD are in the Conservative Party, but the organisation as a whole is highly supportive of the Conservatives, despite that party’s own record of racism and anti-Semitism.)
Let’s move on to the racism aspect:
https://twitter.com/TheMendozaWoman/status/1255957462534049794
Either that, or the party grows a (moral) spine and stands up to these racists & weaponisers of racism.
Which it should have done from the start of their campaign, of course. But I don't see the party doing that … you may well be right if they don't. I think you probably are.
— The Rt Rev'd Mojito🍹 (@childofeternity) May 1, 2020
https://twitter.com/TheMendozaWoman/status/1255954081820094466
There’s also this:
Quick word to those remaining in the Labour party: always check with @BoardofDeputies before saying or doing anything. Remember: it's not your party, it's theirs.
— simon maginn (@simonmaginn) April 30, 2020
What will Keir Starmer do?
Will he take action against the first ever black female MP and one of that ethnic minority’s rising stars in order to appease a minority of a minority – prompting more party members to walk out on him than have done so already? At this rate, by Christmas Labour will consist of him and Angela Rayner alone.
Or will he stand by his colleagues and risk re-sparking the war of words around alleged anti-Semitism in his party?
There is no easy choice but we should have no sympathy – he has done this to himself.
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I am STILL waiting for a response from BOD re my complaint, which is as follows and I have now passed on my complaint to the Charity Commission
Dear Madam
As directed by the Charity Commission website, I am making my formal complaint to you in the first instance.
As I understand it, the Board of Deputies (“BoD”) is controlled by the BoD Charitable foundation with the same directors as BoD.
I contend that the 10 point pledge that BoD demand Labour Party leader and deputy leader candidates sign up to is a breach of the Charities Act ( see link to guidance here) on the grounds that political bias is being exhibited by the organisation.
Campaigning and political activity guidance for charities (CC9)
Campaigning and political activity guidance for charities (CC9)
What charities need to consider when campaigning or engaging in political activity. Also includes guidance about Elections and Referendums.
I am particularly concerned with the wording in pledge 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Pledge 2 and 3 are incompatible with safeguarding the independence of the Labour Party from political interference by other bodies. The only external influence on a political party process should be the law of the land which of course applies to us all.
Pledge 5 promotes “guilt by association”.
It is trite law that a person is innocent until proven guilty. If they are being assisted through the investigation process by another member whilst suspended, you appear to be demanding that the person assisting is also suspended. This would be rather like a trade union representative being suspended because they were supporting an employee, who was suspended from the workplace pending an investigation into allegations made against them.
It is interesting perhaps to note that you do not appear to have demanded that other political parties sign up to this pledge particularly when, as I am sure you are aware, that only the Conservative Party MPs and not its ordinary members, have signed up to the IHRA working definition of antisemitism (not including the 11 examples) whereas the Labour party MPs and all its members have signed up to the full IHRA definition including the 11 examples. It is beyond doubt that there are instances of antisemitism within the Conservative party as various newspaper reports reveal
I also note that you do not appear to have met with the Labour party National Executive Committee to discuss this pledge with them which would need to be ratified by conference.
I feel it only right and proper to give you an opportunity to respond to my complaint and concerns before contacting the Charity Commission.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Good point about the pledge having to be ratified by conference.
Starmer can’t force any other party member to do anything at all, just because he has signed a piece of paper.
So the demand by the Board of Deputies is absolutely meaningless.
Absolutely Mike and Starmer should make that very clear to the BOD.
Starmer and most of his front bench have taken money from Pro Israel lobbyist. As the saying goes: There is no such thing as a free lunch. Sooner rather than later, BotD are going to make all their demands known due to Starmer’s kowtowing to them on the very first day of his becoming leader. Since then we have had weak, ineffectual, wet, leadership. Only opposition to this govt’s incompetence has come from – of all people – Piers Morgan. Not acting on the leaked, redacted report, Starmer has shown himself and a Labour Party which tolerates racism. The Labour Party, I fear, is finished. Labour Party has shown itself to be utterly corrupted from top to bottom.
“Starmer promised to expel any party member found to be giving a platform to former members who had been expelled”
I guess he should also expel himself as, according to the BoD he has done just that by hosting the Zoom event.
The rock and hard p[lace is his own doing, the labour party is no longer fit for purpose when outsiders are allowed to dictate policy.
Don’t forget that all 3 Labour Leader candidates signed the same agreement.