A far-left activist expelled from Labour over allegations of antisemitism was at the centre of a pro-Jeremy Corbyn demonstration outside the party's headquarters on Tuesday.
Tony Greenstein - one of the most high profile expulsions in the party’s on-going Jew-hate crisis - was seen clutching a megaphone at the protest against the party adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
Mr Greenstein was joined by around 100 activists, including Jewish Voice For Labour chair Jenny Manson and its co-founder Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, who repeatedly chanted “Oh, Jeremy Corbyn” at the demo in Victoria, central London.
A smaller demo - organised by pro-Israel activist Jonathan Hoffman - also gathered outside Labour HQ chanting: "JVL off our streets” and “No ifs, no buts, IHRA.”
Police were present to prevent any disorder while barriers were erected to ensure Labour staff could walk into their office building freely.
Asked about the presence of Mr Greenstein at their demo, one senior JVL figure told the JC: "He’s not an antisemite. And no we won’t expel him from our organisation.”
Mr Greenstein was expelled by the party in February, having breached the party's rule 2.1.8, which forbids conduct that is "grossly detrimental to the party".
His expulsion was welcomed by the Jewish Labour Movement, which accused him of "deliberately harassing, intimidatory and hateful language".
The pro and anti-IHRA antisemitism definition protests took place ahead of Labour’s NEC meeting at 1.45pm on Tuesday, when it is due to discuss adopting the definition in full.
Cheating “IHRA no, BDS yes”, the anti-IHRA demonstrators openly cheered Pete Willsman - the re-elected NEC member whose rant about Jewish "Trump fanatics" was exposed by the JC - as he walked into Labour HQ at 11.25am.
As the JC revealed on Monday, Mr Corbyn’s supporters on the NEC will call for the adoption of IHRA - but with a so called “free speech” clause on Israel.
The party previously adopted a watered-down definition of Jew-hate that omitted key examples of how criticising Israel can be antisemitic.
Also among the anti-IHRA protesters were supporters of the International Jewish Anti Zionist Network, a group that has previously called for the destruction of Israel.
Speaking alongside a JVL banner, pro-Corbyn Labour MP Chris Williamson claimed “prominent Jews” backed opposition to IHRA and insisted Palestinian voices were being “silenced".
