The controversial, pro-Jeremy Corbyn Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL) has triggered fury by asking members to help it give antisemitism training to Labour Party members.

JVL, a fringe group accused of trying to downplay Labour's antisemitism crisis, messaged its members, saying it was "receiving a growing number of requests" for such training and, having done two "very successful exploratory" sessions, it was aiming to "expand the programme in the Autumn". 

The Jewish Labour Movement, the party's Jewish affiliate, responded by saying JVL was "seeking every opportunity to undermine attempts to rid our party of antisemitism and to slander our Jewish community to people who perhaps know no better".

“They are the problem," a JLM spokesperson said, pointing out that Labour had asked JLM to build and run a programme of antisemitism training in 2016. They added: "To our knowledge this has not changed." 

The JLM spokesperson said it was "the representative body of the vast majority of Jewish members", adding: “The leadership of the party have said they agree with us on this and we look forward to the party confirming to CLPs who want antisemitism training that they should approach JLM."

In an email in July,  addressed “to all full members of JVL”, JVL asked: “Are you interested in getting involved in this work? Do you have any experience in training in general that you can offer to us?

"Do you have specific thoughts or suggestions you think we might consider?”

A JVL spokesperson told the JC: "As we have made clear in the past, JVL endorses the recommendations in the Chakrabarti Report that education and training about antisemitism and other forms of racism should be delivered in a non partisan manner.

"Where asked to provide speakers or to lead training sessions, we respond - as in everything we do - in accordance with the antiracist principles outlined in the statement on our website.”