Local community leader writes to MP, who is himself Jewish, saying: 'We look to you to represent and we feel you are failing us'
July 16, 2019 10:12
Labour MP Fabian Hamilton has been warned he is a “failing” to represent his Jewish constituents after trying to defend Labour’s disciplinary processes for dealing with antisemitism in a letter to the city’s leading communal organisation.
In correspondence seen by the JC, Mr Corbyn’s shadow peace minister said Labour’s disciplinary processes should be respected and that the recent letter circulated by deputy leader Tom Watson calling for MP Chris Williamson to be suspended only serve to “undermine” the party’s rules.
Mr Williamson was suspended earlier this year and then re-admitted and then re-suspended last month over accusations of "Jew-baiting" with his interventions in the party's antisemtiism crisis.
The Leeds North East MP, who is himself Jewish, wrote: "Although there was outrage in some quarters at the decision to re-admit Chris Williamson, and some of my Parliamentary colleagues decided to write a letter to the general secretary demanding that the decision be reversed, I felt that this action was not the right way to deal with the matter, as I don’t believe that MPs should judge the conduct of their colleagues in this way.
"We have a process for dealing with issues like this and we should not undermine it.
“I also know Chris Williamson personally and have worked with him over a number of years. What he said was wrong and very foolish, but I do not think his re-admittance to the Labour Party is an attack on the Jewish Community in my constituency or across the country.”
In a reply, Leeds Jewish Representative Council (LJRP) President Lisa Baker raised concerns about Mr Hamilton's apparent support for “those within your party who speak anti-Jewish rhetoric”.
She had written to him on July 1 to ask about his failure to condemn Mr Williamson.
She wrote: "I am writing to you on behalf of us all to give you an opportunity to explain why you are not standing with your colleagues to condemn hatred and arguing for your Jewish constituents.
"We look to you to represent and we feel you are failing us.”
After the broadcast of the BBC Panorama episode which exposed major failings in Labour’s disciplinary process last Wednesday, Ms Baker sent another angry missive.
She wrote: "I have taken some time to consider my response as I was so concerned about the position you took in your letter and have additionally reflected following Wednesday night’s Panorama programme.
“It is said we are judged by the friends that we keep, it is your choice to be friends with Chris Williamson, but I have not read anywhere a public statement by you condemning his words and actions.
“It must be the case that he had friends amongst the 120 signatories who were unhappy at the failed process and felt able to speak as you chose not to.
"You say you wanted to give the opportunity for due process to work within the Labour Party’s internal disciplinary process, and I shall pass no comment on the effectiveness of this following Wednesday night’s programme.”
Last year, the JC revealed how Mr Hamilton had sparked fury within the Leeds Jewish community after he tolda Jewish constituent to be “less hysterical and angry” about the antisemitism crisis in Labour.
Mr Hamilton was at the centre of further controversy after it emerged he had invited a Jordanian MP, who has made virulently antisemitic comments, into the Palace of Westminster last week.
Yahya Al-Saud once wrote that Israel was a “Jewish tumour” – but was invited to meet Mr Hamilton and other Labour officials.
Mr Hamilton condemned Mr Al-Saud’s remarks to the JC, saying: “In my capacity as Labour’s Shadow Minister for Peace and Disarmament, as well as the Middle East, last week I met with a delegation of Jordanian MPs who represent a wide range of political views.
"I was not aware at the time of the appalling and antisemitic remarks previously made by one member of the delegation that have now been reported in the press.
"Being Jewish myself, I am appalled to learn of his remarks and totally reject any suggestion that I somehow support what he said simply because this MP was part of the delegation.
"Jordan is a vital ally and a good friend of the United Kingdom in the Middle East and I know that Mr Al-Saud’s comments do not represent the views of the King or the Jordanian government.”
