2 min read
ByLuciana Berger, luciana berger
'As the report now confirms, anti-Jewish discrimination was a real and widespread phenomenon'
October 30, 2020 10:12I left the Labour Party 18 months ago because I could no longer represent a political party that, despite dedicating my adult life to, I had come to the sickening conclusion was institutionally racist.
My former political home had descended into such a dark place, betraying the values of equality for all and anti-racism that Labour has traditionally championed. I had become embarrassed and ashamed to be part of what Labour had become.
As the EHRC report now confirms, anti-Jewish discrimination was a real and widespread phenomenon across the party, from top to bottom.
It was not invented, concocted or exaggerated. It took place in plain sight. Party processes gaave the antisemites cover. The party facilitated a culture of bullying, bigotry and intimidation against Jewish people from within its ranks. At every step of the way, Jeremy Corbyn enabled this to happen.
As the parliamentary chair of the Jewish Labour Movement I spoke out, I intervened and I made representations on countless occasions. And yet things got worse not better.
My own experience was an unceasing catalogue of deeply disturbing incidents. I was subject to sustained levels of online and in person antisemitism from party members, including accusations of conspiracy, bad faith, general malevolence and dual loyalty. The volume and toxicity of this abuse was particularly bad during my last two years.
For months Party HQ knew about a physical threat made against me by a party member but failed to inform either me or the police about it. A different party member was convicted of harassment towards me.
I received hand delivered correspondence to my office signed off by supporters of Jeremy Corbyn that said I would have acid thrown on me and I would be stabbed and raped. I had to take extensive personal safety measures, limiting my freedom of movement. It was relentless.
All I ever wanted was to serve my constituents and make a difference with my campaigns, especially in the fields of mental health and public health. As a result of these catastrophic failings — laid bare today — I ended up being defined by the antisemitism crisis.
The cumulative impact of these occurrences deeply affected my family and dedicated team. And yet I count myself lucky, as I know there are others for whom their experience took an even greater toll. I will forever be grateful to the people that stood by me, my family, my team, other Jewish Labour Party members and the British Jewish community.
I welcome the EHRC’s recommendations and the commitment today from Labour’s new leader Keir Starmer to implement them urgently and in full. There needs to be a complete overhaul of the party’s governance structures, so that no-one will ever again be discriminated against or harassed because of factional control of the party’s mechanisms. I hope to see decisive leadership in the coming weeks and months.
It is in the interests not only of the Labour Party but of our entire democratic system and political culture that left-wing antisemitism is beaten back and out of the heart of Labour. It is critical that Labour becomes a bulwark against racism, not an incubator.
Jewish members have been made to feel intimidated and threatened. MPs have been blocked from their duties by harassment and hatred. A party machine has enabled institutional racism in a once-great political party. There is a long road ahead before Labour can recover from this shameful period in its history.
