His case was one of the most high-profile to go before Labour’s national constitutional committee (NCC) since the party pledged to do more to tackle antisemitism within the party.
February 18, 2018 20:56
A Jewish anti-Zionist activist has been expelled from the Labour Party after a disciplinary hearing found he had breached the party’s rules on three charges.
Tony Greenstein’s case was one of the most high-profile to go before Labour’s national constitutional committee (NCC) since the party pledged to do more to tackle antisemitism within the party.
A panel heard his defence in Brighton today and despite his denial of the charges against him relating to abusive behaviour, found the case was proved.
A Labour Party spokesperson said: "The National Constitutional Committee (NCC) of the Labour Party has today found that all three charges of a breach of the Labour Party's rule 2.1.8 by Tony Greenstein have been found proved.
"The NCC consequently determined that the sanction for the breach of Labour Party rules will be expelled from membership.
"The Labour Party will make no further comment on this matter."
Welcoming the decision to expel Mr Greenstein, Ivor Caplin, south east chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, said: “His continued membership is at complete odds with our collective values of solidarity, tolerance and respect.
“Deliberately harassing, intimidatory and hateful language of the kind Tony Greenstein has continually used has no place inside the Labour movement.
“Despite the unacceptably long time it has taken to reach this conclusion, we are heartened that the party has sent out a clear message on this today.
“We will continue to press the party to deal firmly and swiftly with antisemitism, including the high number of cases that are still waiting to be resolved."
Jonathan Arkush, Board of Deputies president, said: “This had to be the right decision.
"Tony Greenstein’s long record of noxious behaviour makes him an unsuitable member for any respectable political party.
"It is to be hoped that significant outstanding Labour Party disciplinary cases will follow swiftly and yield the same result.
"The Jewish community has waited long enough for the Labour Party to show that it is serious about zero tolerance of antisemitism. This result is a step in the right direction, but there is a way to travel yet.”
Euan Philipps, spokesperson for the Labour Against Antisemitism group, said: “We are delighted that Mr Greenstein has been expelled, and it is a welcome sign that the party does have a red line on antisemitism.
“However, his expulsion shouldn’t mask the fact that the Labour Party still has a great amount of work to do in dealing with antisemitism and we expect to see further evidence of progress in the coming weeks.”
Mr Greenstein went to the High Court last December to delay the hearing, and at the time said: “Despite being Jewish I was suspended as part of the false antisemitism witch-hunt in March 2016.”
He has repeatedly written blog posts and social media posts attacking senior Labour figures, veteran Jewish MP Louise Ellman and referred to Jewish activists as "Zios".
