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Jeremy Corbyn's team in 'rift' over attempt to end antisemitism crisis
Exclusive: Leader's office spent Wednesday calling key communal organisations - but faced united front rejecting further talks
August 8, 2018 20:23
Exclusive: Leader's office spent Wednesday calling key communal organisations - but faced united front rejecting further talks
August 8, 2018 20:23Labour General Secretary Jennie Formby has made a behind-the-scenes bid to end the increasingly tense stand-off with leading Jewish communal organisations, the JC can reveal.
Ms Formby, along with Laura Murray, one of Jeremy Corbyn’s senior advisers, personally telephoned senior figures at the Board of Deputies, Jewish Leadership Council and Jewish Labour Movement on Wednesday afternoon to request talks.
A Labour source confirmed that a decision had been made to contact the organisations by Ms Formby and Ms Murray, the Stakeholder Manager in Mr Corbyn’s office. This was after a tweet on Tuesday by Jonathan Goldstein, chair of the JLC, which contradicted claims by Jeremy Corbyn, in a video released at the weekend, of consultation.
But the JC has learned that there is now a rift among the Labour leader’s key aides over this attempt to make contact with Jewish organisations.
The Labour insider added: “Jennie [Formby] was the driving force behind this move and Laura has managed to maintain some contact with a few individuals, particularly at the JLM.
“The conversations were not easy.
“Their opposition to Labour’s code of conduct on antisemitism was immediately raised as an immovable block to any talks”.
“The continued threat of disciplinary action against Ian Austin was also raised. There was a unified message that this needed to be dropped.
“But more generally, there was the issue of why the communal organisations would want to resume talks at all. They said the Labour leadership had at no point listened to their concerns — and they saw no evidence they would be prepared take serious action.”
Another source confirmed there is now “considerable disagreement” within Mr Corbyn’s office over “tactics” with Jewish communal leaders.
Mr Corbyn’s most senior adviser, Seamus Milne, is claimed to be so determined that the party will not implement the full IHRA definition of antisemitism that it is “the hill he will die on.”
Labour sources deny this.
Mr Milne is backed in his stance by Karie Murphy, Mr Corbyn’s influential chief of staff.