News
MP Chris Williamson accused of 'trolling Jewish community' by hosting Jackie Walker film in Parliament
He booked a room in the House of Commons so pro-Corbyn group Jewish Voice for Labour could show the film
February 26, 2019 17:27
He booked a room in the House of Commons so pro-Corbyn group Jewish Voice for Labour could show the film
February 26, 2019 17:27Labour MP Chris Williamson has been accused of "trolling the Jewish community" for hosting a screening of a film sympathetic to Jackie Walker, the activist suspended from the party over allegations of antisemitism.
Mr Williamson booked a committee room in the House of Commons for a screening of a documentary called Witchhunt, which is to be screened next Monday, which the party has condemned.
He booked the room on behalf of the pro-Corbyn, fringe Jewish Voice for Labour, which has routinely downplayed Labour’s problem with antisemitism.
The Board of Deputies tweeted: “How much longer will Williamson get away with trolling the Jewish community?”
Here's a complaint to put on @tom_watson's list. @DerbyChrisW is hosting a film by Jackie Walker (currently suspended over antisemitism) at Parliament. How much longer will Williamson get away with trolling the Jewish community? https://t.co/IrYimIkFm6 @JewishNewsUK
— Board of Deputies of British Jews (@BoardofDeputies) February 26, 2019
A Labour spokesperson said: "It's completely inappropriate to book a room for an event about an individual who is suspended from the Party and subject to ongoing disciplinary procedures.
"This falls below the standards we expect of MPs."
The Chief Whip Nick Brown and General Secretary Jennie Formby are expected to get in touch with Mr Williamson to urge him to cancel the booking.
Luciana Berger, who quit Labour last week due to antisemitic abuse she has received from with the party, called the screening "beyond offensive".
Labour MP Lilian Greenwood said Mr Williamson’s behaviour “disgusts me and brings shame” on the party.
Ms Walker, who has been suspended since 2016 and faces a hearing in March, has claimed that she has not seen a definition of Jew-hate which she could “work with”.
While attending a Jewish Labour Movement training session on tackling antisemitism she also questioned why Jewish schools needed particular security.
She also said that Holocaust Memorial Day should remember genocides other than the Shoah, despite the fact that HMD does commemorate other genocides.
The Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) reiterated its demand for Mr Williamson to be suspended by the party, which it first made in August.
It said it was “yet to receive a reply from the Opposition Chief Whip from when we wrote to him in August about Chris Williamson and his Jew baiting”.
We are yet to receive a reply from the Opposition Chief Whip from when we wrote to him in August about Chris Williamson and his Jew baiting. @labourwhips https://t.co/O1lTTL2pNf pic.twitter.com/mjjp63dSqT
— Jewish Labour Movement (@JewishLabour) February 26, 2019
In August 2018, JLM called for Mr Williamson, who is one of Mr Corbyn's biggest supporters in parliament, to be suspended from the party after he defended Labour activists who use language "perceived as antisemitic."
At a meeting in Liverpool Mr Williamson, the Derby North MP, did nothing to challenge a left-wing Labour member who used a hard-core antisemitic trope to defend Peter Willsman - the disgraced member of the party's National Executive Committee who ranted about Jewish Trump fanatics.
At the time JLM chair Ivor Caplin wrote to Labour Chief Whip Nick Brown to say Mr Williamson has shown “no contrition or attempt to educate himself".
JLM repeated the call in December when Mr Williamson shared a petition defending notorious antisemite Gilad Atzmon, for which he eventually apologised.
It comes as Labour’s official Jewish affiliate is considering its future in the party amid the ongoing antisemitism crisis.
Some JLM members are considering voting to disaffiliate from the party after 99 years over the leadership’s failure to combat Jew-hate.
