News
Lib Dems expected to adopt full IHRA antisemitism definition
A vote on accepting the definition will take place amid pressure on Labour to do the same
September 4, 2018 08:00
A vote on accepting the definition will take place amid pressure on Labour to do the same
September 4, 2018 08:00The Liberal Democrats are expected to formally adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and its examples on Tuesday.
The Jewish News cited party sources when it reported the Lib Dems would adopt the definition of antisemitism at a meeting of the party’s ruling Federal Board this evening.
A vote on accepting the definition will take place following the pressure on Labour to do the same.
A senior Liberal Democrat said that the party has been using the IHRA definition since 2016.
However not everyone within the party supports the decision to adopt the IHRA definition.
Jonathan Fryer, the chair of Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine, said: “LDFP is firmly opposed to anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and other forms of discrimination. However, in common with several Liberal Jewish groups, as well as legal opinions from a number of authorities (as well as the author of the definition himself), we do have reservations about the wisdom of adopting the IHRA definition with its examples, because of its implications for freedom of expression.”
The move comes as Labour’s ruling body, the National Executive Committee (NEC), will be discussing the issue at the same time.
The JC understands the NEC will be asked to approve a definition of antisemitism which includes a clause claiming to allow “free speech” on the state of Israel.
Senior party figures including leader Jeremy Corbyn, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell and Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry will attempt to launch a media blitz claiming the leadership has listened to the concerns the Jewish community after all and has decided to adopt the full IHRA definition.
But the move to include a so-called “free-speech clause” in the code will infuriate Jewish MPs and the vast majority of their supporters in the Parliamentary Labour Party who are themselves expected to vote unanimously to adopt the full IHRA definition - without any caveats - into their own standing orders on Wednesday.