Fringe Jewish Voice For Labour group defends David Watson
February 26, 2019 15:39The fringe pro-Jeremy Corbyn Jewish Voice For Labour group has launched a petition calling for a Labour member suspended by the Party after sharing antisemitic messages – including comparing the Jewish circumcision ritual with child abuse - to be let back into the party.
David Watson - the fundraising officer in MP Stella Creasy's Walthamstow Labour branch - was suspended over two years ago after sharing numerous Facebook articles and messages, some which compared Israel with the Nazis.
But in a move led by JVL co-founder Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi a petition has been shared among far-left supporters that says it is “vital that we defend David and the others under threat.”
She added there are a “rash of hearings” due to go before Labour’s disciplinary body “in the next couple of weeks.”
But in evidence shown to the JC, Mr Watson – who has previous called his suspension from the party “spurious” and claimed he is “totally innocent” of the charge of antisemitism – has shared a huge amount of material relating to his hatred of Israel and comparisons to the German Nazi regime.
Another message suggests makes vulgar claims about Lord Janner, saying: "A good friend of Israel just like one Jimmy Saville.”
Mr Watson has also been supported in the past by Stephen Marks, another JVL member, who was elected to Labour’s highest disciplinary body, the National Constitutional Committee (NCC).
Mr Marks shared a petition on Change.Org, saying: “It is cases like this which ‘bring the party into disrepute’. Those responsible are the ones who should be suspended!”
Since being suspended, Mr Watson has continued a high-profile social media campaign protesting his innocence over the allegations around a photograph of himself alongside Jeremy Corbyn.
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