Labour MP criticised for linking Israel’s Gaza war to far-right violence - The Jewish Chronicle

The Labour Party has been urged to suspend left-wing MP Clive Lewis for controversial comments on social media.

The MP for Norwich South appeared to suggest there was a link between the conflict in Gaza and anti-Muslim sentiment in the UK.

On Saturday morning, Lewis shared an article from the Guardian newspaper on Twitter reporting on the news that Israel had attacked a school in Gaza.

He tweeted: “The link between the daily inhumanity being metted [sic] out to Palestinians and rising Islamophobia in the UK, are not unconnected. The inhumanity being shown to one is giving ‘permission’ for the other. These actions diminish us all.”

The link between the daily inhumanity being metted out to Palestinians and rising Islamophobia in the UK, are not unconnected.

The inhumanity being shown to one is giving ‘permission’ for the other.

These actions diminish us all. pic.twitter.com/ZETc1guaVS
— Clive Lewis MP (@labourlewis) August 10, 2024

Labour Against Antisemitism (LAA) co-director Alex Hearn responded by saying “Jews living thousands of miles away are not responsible for racism by the far-right in Britain.” He continued, “this sectarian incitement by an MP is unacceptable.”

Jews living thousands of miles away are not responsible for racism by the far-right in Britain.

Out of all the conflicts where Muslims suffer, Lewis picks this, and he’s not referring to Hamas. @UKLabour - this sectarian incitement by an MP is unacceptable. https://t.co/g7GLdRDkbT
— Alex Hearn (@hearnimator) August 10, 2024

Hearn told Sky News that LAA were calling “for his immediate suspension [from the Labour Party] and for the whip to be removed while he is investigated.

"We believe that his comments in the context of sectarian violence and record attacks against British Jews warrant expulsion."

Clive Lewis MP has been contacted for comment.

A Labour Party spokesperson told the JC: “All complaints are treated seriously and thoroughly assessed in line with our rules and procedures.”

However, it is understood that no further action will be taken against Lewis.

When elected as Labour leader in 2020, one of Sir Keir Starmer’s first acts was to apologise to the Jewish community.

He said that Jew-hate had been a “stain” on his party and vowed to tear it out “by its roots”.

Early in Starmer’s leadership, former leader Jeremy Corbyn was removed from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) for refusing to accept the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)’s report into antisemitism in Labour under his leadership.

He was prevented from standing as a Labour candidate in Islington North at the recent general election and won as an independent candidate.