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London Labour branch tells West Ham CLP to cancel meeting over antisemitism motion
West Ham Labour group were due to vote on motion criticising “hysteria” over antisemitism
March 28, 2019 17:23
West Ham Labour group were due to vote on motion criticising “hysteria” over antisemitism
March 28, 2019 17:23Labour’s London Region has intervened to tell the party’s West Ham constituency to cancel its general meeting after a motion due to be voted on refered to “hysteria” over antisemitism.
The West Ham Constituency Labour Party (CLP) meeting, was told to cancel its meeting which was due to be held on Thursday evening, after a motion was submitted by the postal engineering branch of the Communication Workers’ Union.
The motion tabled said it “refutes the allegation that Labour is antisemitic” and “rejects the current atmosphere of hysteria, denunciation and rush-to-judgement over antisemitism that is now being stoked by certain existing and ex-Labour MPs.”
The CWU motion suggested that “some of our most prominent anti-racist activists are being unjustly accused of antisemitism, including our leader, Jeremy Corbyn.”
It went on to suggest disciplinary action had been taken against members “before they are given a chance to respond.”
In a letter to CLP members this week, chair of the West Ham CLP, Josephine Grahl said it was “with regret” that the General Committee meeting had been cancelled.
The meeting was to consider other motions including one proposed by Canning Town North expressing support for the Jewish Labour Movement.
Another motion tabled by Unison’s Waltham Forest Branch set to reaffirm the “CLP’s implacable hostility to all forms of racism.”
The move to cancel the meeting comes after a speaker referred to “false claims” of antisemitismat last month’s CLP meeting.
Speaking about the latest meeting, Ms Grahl told CLP members: “If we simply debate these we are in danger of repeating the events of February, rather than moving forward in a more positive manner.”
She said advice to cancel had been taken from Hazel Flynn, the regional director of the London Labour Party.
She wrote: “She suggested we cancel or postpone… She is willing to attend a future meeting to help us through this difficult period.”
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