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Labour's JLM candidates spark row
Selection of JLM candidates re-opens arguments about antisemitism within the Labour party
May 5, 2017 13:26
By, Lee Harpin
3 min read
Selection of JLM candidates re-opens arguments about antisemitism within the Labour party
May 5, 2017 13:26ByLee Harpin, Lee Harpin
The decision by two leading Jewish Labour Movement activists to stand in the two constituencies with the largest Jewish populations has sparked a furious row within the community.
Jeremy Newmark, JLM chair, this week said he was “proud” to be Labour’s candidate in Finchley and Golders Green, while Mike Katz, one of JLM’s vice-chairs, has been selected in the neighbouring Hendon seat.
The Labour candidates, who have been critical of Mr Corbyn’s failure to tackle antisemitism within the party, will be aiming to topple the commanding majorities of Mike Freer in Finchley and Mathew Offord in Hendon — two non-Jewish Conservative MPs with track records of speaking up for Israel and the Jewish community.
A senior Jewish Labour Party figure said the decision of Mr Newmark and Mr Katz to stand was “foolish in the extreme. Jeremy and Mike may have the right intentions by standing in these two seats, but when you think their decision through, all they serve to do is legitimise a Labour Party led by Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell.
“It’s really hard to see how they can justify their decision to stand in these seats with Labour in the place it currently finds itself at.”
The senior figure said they had been inundated with phone calls and emails from Jewish Labour supporters who would refuse to vote for the candidates because of Mr Corbyn’s leadership.
But Liberal Judaism’s Senior Rabbi Danny Rich defended their candidacies: “If one has a problem with the current Labour Party, then what better than Jewish candidates, fighting to represent their Party? What better than more Jewish voices elected as Labour MPs with the drive and determination to rid our Party of antisemitism?”
Rabbi Rich, a JLM member standing for election in next year’s local council elections, added: “We’ll stand up for our politics, fight antisemitism and improve the future of this country all in the same breadth. After all, if we walk away from the Labour Party, what stake do we have in its future?”
In a further attempt to defend its decision, the JLM released a video message in which Ruth Smeeth, who was MP Stoke North until Parliament was dissolved, spoke alongside Mr Newmark.
Ms Smeeth, a member of the JLM who has herself been the target of repeated antisemitic abuse, said: “Let’s be quite clear, the last few years have been quite tough to be Jewish and be involved in the Labour Party.
“But we are members of this party because of the values that we share, and those are Jewish values. The idea that we hand over and walk away from our party and the values we believe in - that would be nonsense.
“We stay and fight to make sure the Labour Party represents us.”
Mr Newmark, who has chaired the JLM since 2014, said he was “proud” to have been selected as the party’s candidate for the north west London constituency where Jews make up more than 20 per cent of the electorate.
Mr Newmark has previously held key roles within the Jewish community, serving as chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council from 2006 to 2013 and prior to that as a spokesperson for Rabbi Lord Sacks when he was Chief Rabbi. He is also the current chair of the constituency Labour party in Hertsmere.
Speaking to the JC, Mr Newmark said he intended “to work hard to ensure that Labour’s campaign in Finchley and Golders Green articulates the aspirations of all communities in the area, who are suffering from cuts in public services at this challenging time”.
Mr Katz was selected in Hendon on Sunday. Jews make up 17 per cent of the Hendon electorate.
The JLM also announced the selection of three more of its members to fight seats in next month’s election – Rhea Wolfson in Livingstone, Alex Sobel in Leeds North West and Michael Desmond in Faversham and Mid-Kent.
The JLM’s current parliamentary president is Luciana Berger who is standing again in Liverpool Wavertree.
Local councillor Navin Shah will Labour’s candidate in the Harrow East constituency where around seven per cent of voters are Jewish. He will attempt to take Tory Bob Blackman’s seat.
Adam Bernard, for the Lib Dems, is the only confirmed Jewish candidate in the constituency.
In Hertsmere, Fiona Kay Smith will be Labour’s challenger to Conservative incumbent Oliver Dowden. During the Gaza conflict in August 2014 she called for an arms embargo on Israel and accused the country of war crimes.
Emma Whysall is standing for Labour in Chipping Barnet, where Conservative former minister Theresa Villiers has a 7,656 majority.
Robert Largan will be the Conservative candidate attempting to win Bury South from Ivan Lewis, the veteran Jewish former Labour minister.
In Renfrewshire East, home to the majority of Glasgow’s Jewish community, former Better Together chief Blair McDougall will stand for Labour. Jim Murphy lost the seat to the SNP in 2015. Mr McDougall ran David Miliband’s unsuccessful party leadership campaign in 2010.
