MP Jess Phillips and antisemitism watchdog attacked after reporting Labour activist's 'Israel lobby' claims

A prominent Labour antisemitism watchdog on Twitter has dismissed claims it is run by “Tory activists” after reporting apparently antisemitic posts by a Labour activist.

The Gnasher Jew account, which reports instances of far-left antisemitism, angered left-wing activists when it reported a series of posts in which the activist allegedly claimed that Jess Phillips, the Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, was paid £1 million by “the Israeli lobby”, and that claims of Jew-hatein the party are “bourgeois lies and propaganda”.

Ms Phillips responded, agreeing it was “very clear antisemitism”, and agreed to report it to her party.

She and Gnasher Jew were then both attacked by pro-Corbyn account Labour Left Voice, which accused the latter of being run by members of the Conservative Friends of Israel group.

Labour Left Voice tweeted: “They have pinned THE most heinous defamation of [Labour] members on their page and Jess Phillips now liaising with them openly. This is NOT on.”

Gnasher Jew denied its administrators were Conservative supporters, accusing Labour Left Voice of being "obsessed with being Jewish and with Jews in general".

It added: "None of us have ever voted Tory, it’s known that 2 of us are ex AWL (Alliance for Workers' Liberty)."

This is highly significant. This appalling account has been making the most disgraceful assertions about Labour members, often boosted by Corbyn-sceptic MPs.

It turns out they are a Tory activist. Some things are unacceptable in politics. This is one of them. https://t.co/b5CtbGeaNH
— Aaron Bastani (@AaronBastani) January 1, 2019

Aaron Bastani, the co-founder of left-wing Novara Media news site, appeared to support Labour Left Voice, saying the revelation was “highly significant”, accusing Gnasher Jew of “smearing” Labour members.

He tweeted: “This appalling account has been making the most disgraceful assertions about Labour members, often boosted by Corbyn-sceptic MPs.

“It turns out they are a Tory activist. Some things are unacceptable in politics. This is one of them.”

Ms Phillips defended her actions, saying she "reports and seek to exclude racists from my party".

She said: "Someone on twitter set me evidence of someone (alleged from a Lab CLP) saying something antisemetic. I replied saying I'd report it to party as (Labour's general secretary Jennie Formby) has told Lab MPs to do."

Others pointed out the absurdity of saying a Labour MP was wrong to report Labour antisemitism on the basis of the supposed political sympathies of the accuser.

Wait, so Jess Phillips is alerted to some blatantly antisemitic messages apparently by a Labour member, she in turn alerts the general secretary, yet now she’s getting piled on because the account which alerted her may or may not have Tory links? You utterly ludicrous people.
— Jane Merrick (@janemerrick23) January 2, 2019

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