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Corbyn calls for Labour suspensions to be dropped
Former leader’s request comes as Jewish members walk out of Tottenham CLP meeting in disgust
December 3, 2020 18:34
Former leader’s request comes as Jewish members walk out of Tottenham CLP meeting in disgust
December 3, 2020 18:34Jeremy Corbyn has called on Labour to drop the suspension of members who have ignored an edict from Labour’s General Secretary banning motions on his suspension as a party MP.
In comments that will infuriate the Labour leadership, the former leader said he would “campaign” not just to overturn the decision by Sir Keir Starmer to remove the party whip from him – but also “for other people who have sadly been suspended because they spoke out at constituency meetings all over the country.”
In a Zoom conversation on Wednesday, Mr Corbyn said: “I obviously contest [the decision to suspend me and block my re-admittance to the PLP] very, very strongly and we together will all campaign on this thing, and above all we’ll make sure that we win this thing.
“Not just for me, but for the right of free speech in our party and, of course, the need for other people who have sadly been suspended because they spoke out at constituency meetings all over the country; I want to see them all back in the party as well, and that is what I’m absolutely determined to achieve.”
His comments came as Jewish members walked out of a meeting of the Tottenham Labour Party after two motions – one in support of Mr Corbyn and another attacking the current leadership - that had been ruled out of order by regional officials continued to be debated, at the insistence of the chair.
In defiance against guidelines issued by General Secretary Mr Evans designed to ensure that party meetings offer a welcoming environment to Jewish members, chair Nick Rogers told Monday’s meeting that he would proceed to allow the motions to be heard.
The JC understands that Mr Rogers has now been suspended pending an investigation into his conduct at the meeting.
Mr Rogers had already been informed by a London Labour regional official that he was required to adhere to the instructions given to all CLPs by Mr Evans.
He told the meeting: “To be absolutely clear I am taking this on myself as chair of the CLP to say that members should be able to debate either piece or both of these motions if they wish.
“I have been told by region I shouldn’t allow that…. So I am going against the instructions of the Regional Director on that.
“If there are any consequences it will be me who bears those and nobody else.”
In a vote to allow the motions, many delegates abstained, saying they could not take part in an authorised vote. It left the pro-Corbyn wing of the CLP to claim a majority vote in favour of proceeding.
Multiple sources confirmed to the JC that Jewish members of the local party were so upset by the decision to proceed with the motions that they exited the online meeting in disgust.
Another long-time Jewish member spoke out and described her anger at the chair’s decision.
One source told the JC: “It was a disgusting scenario. While the first speakers claimed this to be all about a freedom of speech issue, those who spoke later launched full-on rants about the treatment allegedly being dished out to Corbyn, and openly discussed the EHRC, despite the party stating they had accepted all its recommendations.”
One of the motions heard at the meeting, which expressed no confidence in Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Evans, was seconded by Haringey Labour councillor James Chiriyankandath.
Evidence seen by the JC showed Mr Chiriyankandath’s lengthy record of commenting on antisemitism claims in the party.
In March 2018 he claimed “the real antisemitism in the Labour Party and the media comes from those who purposely conflate criticism of Israel and anti-Zionists with antisemitism”.
Last November he claimed Facebook was part of a campaign across the Western world to “stifle voices speaking up for the Palestinians against the illegal and oppressive Zionist occupation of their land” following a report that the social media giant had deleted a Palestinian news site’s page.
The other motion, which cited the EHRC report into antisemitism and Article 10 of the Human Rights Act, expressed “solidarity” with Mr Corbyn and called for the whip to be restored to him.
Delegates who remained voted by 49-4 for the no-confidence motion and 55-0 for the whip to be restored to Mr Corbyn.
Labour have carried out a string of high profile suspensions over the past week, in relation to CLP officials defying the leaderdership.
Jevish Voice For Labour's Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi was suspended on Thursday, while senior figures in the Nottingham East and Hamptead and Kliburn local parties also faced sanctions pending investigations.
