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Man who dismissed antisemitism set for top Labour role in dealing with it
Stephen Marks accused Jewish groups of being behind 'imagined' claims of antisemitism in the party
October 19, 2018 09:55
Stephen Marks accused Jewish groups of being behind 'imagined' claims of antisemitism in the party
October 19, 2018 09:55A hard-left member of the Jewish Voice For Labour group is heading for a position on the Labour Party’s top disciplinary body after pro-Jeremy Corbyn activists buried internal factional divisions and united to back him.
Stephen Marks — who once accused the Board of Deputies of being behind “imagined” claims of antisemitism in Labour — was placed on the left-wing “slate” of six suggested candidates for election onto the party’s National Constitutional Committee (NCC).
On Wednesday, Momentum confirmed they would support Mr Marks, amongst the candidate list – despite earlier claims that founder Jon Lansman would block the endorsement of the JVL activist, which had been made by the far-left Campaign for Labour Party Democracy (CLPD) led by Pete Willsman, who was exposed by the JC over his Jewish “Trump fanatics” comments earlier this year.
Labour’s increasingly left-wing membership will now almost certainly vote for the six names on the left-wing NCC slate, meaning Mr Marks could soon be ruling on controversial antisemitism allegations initially carried out by the party’s National Executive Committee.
Meanwhile, Labour Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has acknowledged in an exchange of emails with a Jewish Labour Party member that there were “issues” with the event he attended in the Finchley and Golders Green constituency with Jewish Voice for Labour co-chair Jenny Manson.
Defending his decision to appear at the event — at which at least one Jewish journalist was refused admission —
Mr McDonnell also claimed he had “raised concerns” with Ms Manson over her past conduct.
Responding to an email from Finchley and Golders Green Labour member Joel Rosen, Mr McDonnell wrote: “I acknowledge that issues have been raised surrounding tonight’s event.
“As a friend I will urge Jenny to redouble her efforts to reach out to sections within the Jewish community.”
In an email sent to Mr McDonnell two days before the meeting, Mr Rosen had highlighted the fact that Ms Manson had at a previous meeting of the local Labour Party compared “the homophobic Section 28 legislation to the IHRA definition of antisemitism which our NEC has adopted unanimously”.
He also reiterated to Jeremy Corbyn’s closest ally how Ms Manson’s campaign to stand as a Labour MP in the seat “has the backing, both financially and politically, of racists who have been expelled from our party. History will record you as the Shadow Chancellor who saw fit to show solidarity with Jackie Walker and Jenny Manson whilst courageous anti-racist MPs like Luciana Berger and Ian Austin are left increasingly isolated.”
Hendon Labour Party has selected David Pinto-Duschinsky to stand against sitting MP Matthew Offord at the next general election.
