closeicon
News

Jeremy Corbyn set to meet leaders of the Jewish community

The Labour leader will sit down with representatives of the Board of Deputies and Jewish Leadership Council following increased anger over his failure to tackle antisemitism

articlemain

Jeremy Corbyn will meet leaders of the Jewish community later today.

The Labour leader will sit down with representatives of the Board of Deputies and Jewish Leadership Council at 5pm this afternoon following increased anger over his failure to tackle antisemitism. 

Jonathan Arkush, Board president, and Jonathan Goldstein, JLC chairman, are expected to ask Mr Corbyn to use his “personal authority” to drive through changes to wipe out the problem in the party.

Mr Arkush is expected to ask that Mr Corbyn brings all outstanding and future disciplinary cases to a “swift conclusion under a fixed timetable”. He will also call for a pledge that no Labour MP will share a stand with people suspended or expelled for antisemitism.

The Board and the JLC have already asked that an independent ombudsman be appointed to examine allegations of antisemitism and that the ombudsman reports to both the Labour Party and the Board.

“This is the Labour leader’s final opportunity to deliver on antisemitism. I am not prepared to negotiate. We have set out expectations and expect him to act,” Mr Arkush said.

The organisations took the took the unprecedented step of demonstrating outside Parliament in March before delivering an open letter to a meeting of Labour MPs and peers about their concerns.

Following the protest, Mr Corbyn said he was “happy to meet” the two bodies “without any preconditions” and vowed to hear their concerns about tackling antisemitism in the Labour Party.

Referring to the "Enough is Enough" demonstration organised by their groups, the Jewish leaders wrote: "Last month’s protest was a necessary moment of catharsis, as painful for Labour as it was for our community, but we cannot now return to 'business as usual'.

"We need this to be a genuine turning point and will do everything we can to make it so.

"We can achieve this together if Mr Corbyn can fulfil his pledge to be our 'militant ally' in the fight against antisemitism and demonstrate his understanding that what is now needed is firm action and not just words."

The meeting will also be attended by Jennie Formby, Labour general secretary.

Share via

Want more from the JC?

To continue reading, we just need a few details...

Want more from
the JC?

To continue reading, we just
need a few details...

Get the best news and views from across the Jewish world Get subscriber-only offers from our partners Subscribe to get access to our e-paper and archive