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Momentum founder suggests Jeremy Corbyn could undergo antisemitism training
Jon Lansman says the Labour leader 'has a lifelong commitment to learning'
September 2, 2018 11:09
1 min read
Jon Lansman says the Labour leader 'has a lifelong commitment to learning'
September 2, 2018 11:09Momentum founder Jon Lansman has suggested Jeremy Corbyn could undertake training on antisemitism.
Speaking at Jewish Labour Movement’s one-day conference at JW3 on Sunday, Mr Lansman said: "Everyone needs training and Corbyn has a commitment to lifelong learning.”
Appearing an a panel about whether Labour represented too many differing political views, the Jewish left-winger was asked about the prospect of the leader undergoing training in a question from a former member of Labour’s ruling body Jasmin Beckett.
He was later quizzed again about the prospect of Mr Corbyn being trained to combat antisemitic views by TV media gathered at the packed conference.
Mr Lansman accepted that anyone, including Mr Corbyn, who sits on the Party’s National Executive Committee should have automatically been trained on what constitutes Jew -hate.
But he said that, as leader, Mr Corbyn’s busy agenda may be a problem with his being able to attend training.
Mr Lansman also expressed solidarity with fellow Jewish members of the Labour Party “in the face of appalling abuse” and said he sympathised with the “alienation we all feel [as Jewish Labour members]”.
The Momentum chair said: “I may not have been in the Dayenu protest but I was struck by the absence of flag, of blue and white… This is not about Israel, it’s about antisemitism.”
He added: “There is no contradiction between fighting antisemitism and supporting Palestinian rights.”
In a further revealing admission, Mr Lansman said he feared a split in Labour as a result of the antisemitism crisis could allow the Tories back into government.
He also hinted that Tuesday’s Labour NEC meeting could see the party fail to adopt the full International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition when it meets.
Mr Lansman accepted that “some were more concerned than me” on the NEC about restrictions on free speech on Israel they believe the IHRA definition imposes.
But the Momentum founder struggled to contain audience anger as he was quizzed over Labour’s failure to deal with antisemitism.
He was heckled when said on incidents of antisemitism that “much of those can be dealt with by education and training”.
When his comment provoked laughter from the audience, he added: “Well, not all of them, but do you not believe in redemption?”
After further heckling, Lansman observed that “600,000 people are a weapon” and warned that Labour should “not throw it away lightly”.
Mr Lansman was also pressed on why he had not acted over fellow NEC member Peter Willsman’s comments about Jewish Trump fanatics and the suggesting that "70 rabbis" were lying about allegations of antisemtism before the recording was revealed by the JC.
“I was very unhappy with what Pete Willsman said at the NEC on that occasion and on previous occasions,” he said.
