The Jewish Labour Movement has said its members will not be campaigning for Labour MPs at the election “unless in exceptional circumstances and for exceptional candidates", including its parliamentary chair Ruth Smeeth and those "who’ve been unwavering in their support of us.”
In a damning indictment of Jeremy Corbyn’s failure to tackle antisemitism, JLM stated: "Fighting racism, prejudice and intolerance is at the heart of our Labour values – it is the failure of the leader and his supporters to live these values which has led us to take this stance.”
The 2,000-member organisation, who have previously sent activists across the country to campaign with MPs during elections, stressed that the stance ahead of the December 12 poll “does not mean that we no longer support the Labour Party’s policies and its historic values, nor do we wish to see Boris Johnson or Jo Swinson in Downing Street.”
JLM’s election statement means that they will not support Labour candidates in any of the key north London marginal seats of Finchley and Golders Green, Hendon or Chipping Barnet.
The move could prove crucial as Labour seeks to overturn Tory minister Theresa Villiers' slim majority over Labour in Chipping Barnet. It could also encourage other Labour supporters to turn to Lib Dem candidate Luciana Berger in Finchley and Golders Green.
But the organisation will provide assistance to MP Ms Smeeth in Stoke on Trent North and to Dame Margaret Hodge in Barking, East London as they campaign to retain their seats.
It is understood that limited help may also be provided for Alex Sobel, the Jewish Leeds North West MP.
But the JC has learned that some JLM members have suggested the group should not be assisting any MPs who are standing for Labour.
Assessing the impact of Mr Corbyn’s leadership, JLM said: "Our Honorary President, Dame Louise Ellman MP, along with our former Parliamentary Chair, Luciana Berger MP were hounded out of Labour after years of relentless abuse, particularly in their local parties.
“Despite being well aware of this bullying, Jeremy Corbyn did nothing to address their concerns. When two accomplished and dedicated Jewish Labour MPs no longer see a place for themselves in the Labour Party, it’s clear that the party has lost its way.”
They added: "The last four years have been catastrophic for Jews in the Labour Party. Nevertheless, the Jewish Labour Movement has kept true to our Labour values and resolved – for now – to stay and fight racism, rather than disaffiliate and walk away.”
At the 2017 election, JLM organised more than 50 campaign activities across six electoral regions and in marginal seats.
The group said its election statement reflected the collective will of its members.
But it added that individual member's decisions during the general election were a private matter for each of them.
