The move is seen as the party's Left attempting to get rid of a group controlled by Labour centrists, which has provided key support to harassed Jewish members
September 18, 2019 10:30
Labour has decided to disband the party’s student wing, despite Jews warning that to do so would make the fight against antisemitism in the party even harder.
At a meeting of Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on Tuesday, members voted to replace Labour Students, claiming that the group had not paid its annual affiliation fees.
But Labour Students said the claim was “false and misleading” and said it had provided evidence to Labour’s general secretary and the chair of the NEC to show this.
The NEC, which is now dominated by Jeremy Corbyn supporters from the party's left, took the decision to disaffiliate the group, which is seen as more moderate than the party's ruling body.
The Jewish Labour Movement had warned that getting rid of Labour Students “will disband one of our most committed allies in the fight against anti-Jewish racism. They’ve gone above and beyond to call out antisemitism and support Jewish students.”
Solidarity with @LabourStudents, this move not only infringes on the role of Socialist Societies, but will disband one of our most committed allies in the fight against anti-Jewish racism. They’ve gone above and beyond to call out antisemitism and support Jewish students. https://t.co/NKzVQXcdxb
— Jewish Labour Movement (@JewishLabour) September 17, 2019
Esther Offenberg, president of the Union of Jewish Students, said that Labour Students had “stood with Jewish students time and time again in the fight against antisemitism. Any move to weaken Labour Students makes the fight against antisemitism in the Labour Party even greater.”
Young Jewish Labour members had also expressed their distress at the planned NEC vote.
“Labour Students have incredible allies in the fight against antisemitism”, one young Jewish Labour member tweeted.
“For many Jewish students, NOLS is one of the last safe spaces left in Labour.”
If @UKLabour axe @LabourStudents today, it will set a very dangerous precedent about the autonomy of socialist societies
— Jack Lubner (@JackLubner) September 17, 2019
NOLS have been incredible allies in the fight against antisemitism
For many Jewish students, NOLS is one of the last safe spaces left in Labour https://t.co/Q8rnT5gQUd
Izzy Lenga, former vice president of the National Union of Students and current International Officer for the JLM, tweeted: “It’s no secret being involved in student politics lead me to face some of the most vile and threatening antisemitism I will ever experience.
"NOLS [National Organisation of Labour Students] was always there for me when too many too often weren’t. A true ally in the fight against antisemitism & I’ll be forever grateful.”
Dave Rich, head of policy at the CST and author of "The Left's Jewish Problem" said the factional disagreements at play here go back decades.
He noted the organisation, under the leadership of future MP John Mann, fought an attempt by a students' union to ban the campus Jewish Society while the Labour Movement Campaign for Palestine backed the students' union.
In 1985 Sunderland Polytechnic Jewish Society was banned by its own Students' Union for being "Zionist". @LabourStudents, led by @JohnMannMP, supported the JSoc. Labour Movement Campaign for Palestine, sponsored by Jeremy Corbyn, supported the SU. Some battles never end.
— Dave Rich (@daverich1) September 18, 2019
Opponents of Labour Students have argued that the organisation is undemocratic, with a large majority of students who are Labour members unable to vote in the group's elections and with a number of Labour societies at universities disaffiliating from it in recent years.
