EXCLUSIVE: Cllr Noah Tucker is facing claims that he repeatedly shared material that could be deemed antisemitic
September 7, 2020 09:59
A Haringey councillor once accused of displaying a “sickening tolerance of antisemitism in Labour’s ranks” has been suspended by the party pending an investigation into further claims about his conduct.
Cllr Noah Tucker – once a cabinet member in what became known as “Corbyn’s council” because of the dominance of left-wing Momentum supporters – is facing claims that he has repeatedly shared material that could be deemed to be antisemitic.
He becomes to the second member of the Haringey Labour Party to be suspended over claims of anti-Jewish racism in a matter of weeks.
In March, Mr Tucker asked Tottenham Constituency Labour Party to drop a clause stating that the group should adopt "a zero-tolerance position" on antisemitism.
Local Labour MP David Lammy was amongst those to hit out at the councillor’s actions.
Meanwhile Haringey Liberal Democrat councillor Tammy Palmer said Mr Tucker “brings shame on the whole borough of Haringey” adding it was “sickening but sadly not surprising to see” him “once again arguing for tolerating antisemitism.”
There have been repeated calls for Labour to take action against Mr Tucker – but these appeared to fall on deaf ears under previous leader Jeremy Corbyn.
The JC understands that Labour decided to take action against the former Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Insourcing after receiving a complaint listing at least eight allegations about Mr Tucker’s conduct.
On one occasion he openly raised the possibility that Israel was attempting to “take over “ the Labour Party. He also shared false claims that Israel was behind the killing of the Black American George Floyd.
He also shared conspiracy theories about Israel, Syria and Islamic State.
In March 2019 a recording emerged in which Mr Tucker, a former Communist Party member, criticised the suspension of “one of our best and most honest and most loyal MPs, Chris Williamson, for the crime of speaking the truth”.
He also claimed the decision of former MP Luciana Berger and others to quit the party were “nothing whatsoever to do with antisemitism and nothing at all to do with allegations of bullying” and that they were actually attempting “to protect the power, the privilege and the huge wealth of a tiny minority of people”.
It is also alleged he shared conspiracy theories about Israel, Daesh and Syria.
After the recording emerged, Mr Tucker escaped sanction after issuing an apology saying he would “never seek to downplay the seriousness” of antisemitism within Labour.
Mr Tucker’s suspension follows that of another Haringey Labour councillor, Preston Tabois, earlier this month - again over antisemitism claims.
In 2018 two former Jewish Labour councillors spoke out about the antisemitism they had experienced from Momentum’s Haringey branch in north London.
Joe Goldberg and Natan Doron said that it had become impossible to be a Jewish Labour councillor, with insults about the Holocaust regularly coming from Momentum members.
Labour sources have confirmed Mr Tucker’s suspension to the JC.
Mr Tucker told the JC:"I am an opponent of racism in all its forms including antisemitism.
"Social media posts have been collated, including selective editing, seemingly in a malicious attempt to falsely associate me with antisemitism.
"States and organisations which engage politically are legitimately subjects of discussion and criticism.
"I am confident that a fair process by the Labour Party will reinstate me soon to full membership. "
