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Jewish Ex-Labour candidate 'disappointed and angry' local party defended Chris Williamson

Oliver Coppard distanced himself from the Sheffield Hallam Constituency Labour Party, four years after narrowly losing the seat to Nick Clegg

March 6, 2019 14:06
Mr Coppard, standing behind Nick Clegg, came within 2,500 votes of unseating the then Liberal Democrat leader in 2015
2 min read

A Jewish Labour candidate has condemned the local party in the constituency where he stood for parliament, saying its meetings have become “unpleasant, aggressive experiences” after a takeover by hard-left activists.

Oliver Coppard, who narrowly lost to Nick Clegg in Sheffield Hallam in 2015, was speaking after the Constituency Labour Party (CLP) passed a motion backing controversial MP Chris Williamson – which just one person opposed.

It came amid a raft of local parties and branches passed motions backing Mr Williamson, who was suspended for saying the party was “too apologetic” over its antisemitism crisis under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

Mr Coppard told the JC: “What is left [in the CLP] is a self-selecting group of people who are taking decisions without the consent of the wider membership.