Labour MP Luciana Berger has said she has "no faith" in the party's ability to fight antisemitism, after a left-wing lawyer and ally of Jeremy Corbyn was appointed to oversee it.
Labour attracted fresh criticism after it was revealed that Gordon Nardell QC will adopt only part of the internationally recognised definition of antisemitism – reportedly omitting examples relating to Israel.
There is also mounting concern over Mr Nardell’s long history of hard-left activism and association with Elleanne Green, the Labour activist suspended after the Palestine Live Facebook group she founded hosted openly antisemitic material.
On Friday, Ms Berger tweeted that Mr Nardell had "made worrying statements on social media and was identifiably connected to organisations and individuals that seek to deny the antisemitism problem".
"There is an antisemitism problem in Labour," she wrote, adding Mr Nardell's appointment left her with "no faith in the objectivity of the process".
She called on the NEC, the party's governing body, to "urgently review his appointment".
This week, @UKLabour announced that Gordon Nardell QC got the job. That he is now the internal arbiter of @uklabour antisemitism cases means I have no faith in the objectivity of the process.
— Luciana Berger (@lucianaberger) June 15, 2018
The NEC should urgently review his appointment.
Supporters of Mr Nardell have defended him.
On Friday, Naomi Wimbourne-Idrissi, the founder of the pro-Corbyn Jewish Voice for Labour, told LBC Radio the lawyer's critics “will only be happy if we have a QC in the pocket of the Israeli Embassy".
Host Nick Ferrari labelled her assertion "ridiculous".
Ms Wimbourne-Idrissi also urged the party to formulate a definition of antisemitism which draws a distinction between "abhorrent hostility and hatred of the Jews and attitudes to Israel".
David Collier, a vocal supporter of Israel whose research exposed examples of Labour antisemitism, tweeted: "Dear Naomi - you want an example of antisemitism in Labour - that quote of yours is a good one."
Naomi Wimborne Idrissi on @LBC
— David Collier (@mishtal) June 15, 2018
'People like @mishtal and @JohnMannMP will only be happy if we have a QC in the pocket of the Israeli Embassy'
Dear Naomi - you want an example of #antisemitism in @uklabour - that quote of yours is a good one.
