Can you make a diﬀerence to Labour, Charlie? - The Jewish Chronicle

I’ve always liked Charlie Falconer. Sometimes he gets up in the Lords and says things I think are completely wrong, but I’m sure he thinks the same when I rise. He is, however, well informed and thoughtful. A parliamentary democrat. And an engaging person.

So this column is a bit of advice to someone I have regard for. Lord Falconer has been asked to provide some independent advice to the Labour Party on antisemitism and has clearly been thinking about whether to take this role on and under what conditions. Here are some reflections which might help him, or if he doesn’t do it, someone else.

First, you can’t be only a little bit independent. To be honest, being a Labour peer makes it quite hard for him to be seen as fully independent to start off with. But it certainly means he, or any alternative, has to make it clear he doesn’t want a front bench position in the future.

Lord Falconer has correctly said that Labour has lost the trust of the Jewish community (not, of course, of all Jews, but of most and of its mainstream communal bodies). It will be hard to win back. And it will take time. So if he, or any alternative, is hoping to take ministerial office in a Corbyn government, he shouldn’t take on this role.

Second, the advisor is placing themselves in the middle of a battle for control of the Labour party. Anyone taking this on has to ask themselves — do I want this?

Antisemitism is not a marginal issue. However unbelievable this seems to most of us, ruling on its extent and deciding how to deal with it has become a central question. It is not just a, frankly trivial, matter of speeding up the disciplinary process to tackle those people posting unacceptable tweets. It’s about changing the culture of the party. When a large proportion of activists, probably the majority, does not believe there is a cultural problem.

The public clash between the Deputy Leader and the party’s General Secretary is one that any experienced political operator — like Charlie Falconer— will immediately recognise as extraordinary. It is a sign that every inch of territory will be fought over and that, even though the leadership has sanctioned the appointment of an advisor their support for the advisor’s work cannot be taken for granted.

Let’s use the example of Chris Williamson. The Derby MP has essentially been trolling the Jewish community for months, denying the problem of antisemitism and suggesting — extraordinarily, appallingly — that it is being weaponised by “dark forces” acting to prevent Labour from changing history. This, in a meeting in which a speaker calls for disciplinary measures against antisemites be paused until, get this, “Jew process” is established.

So now he has been suspended pending an investigation. His future as a Labour MP and, crucially, as a Labour candidate, will become a major political battle. Broadly, he is an ally and friend of the leader and his office, but anathema to many parliamentary colleagues. Lord Falconer, or anybody else in that role, will be in the centre of this. And it will not be enough simply to claim that they have been asked to oversee the process.

Third, and allied to this, the advisor will have to take on the leader. Jeremy Corbyn’s instinct is the same as the average left activist. He has had to be forced to respond but he completely rejects the idea that the party is institutionally antisemitic. And he cannot understand or accept why his own actions have exacerbated the problem.

Lord Falconer has said that he doesn’t think Mr Corbyn himself is antisemitic but accepts that he has failed to deal with the problem. This view was common in the Jewish community a year ago, but has now changed. The mural and the “English irony” comment have shifted opinion and now many straightforwardly think the Labour leader himself has a problem with Jews. This has produced a vast gulf between Mr Corbyn’s view of himself and the view of him now common in the community.

No advisor can succeed unless they are able to close that gap. Just before you say yes, are you sure, Charlie, that this is going to be possible?

Daniel Finkelstein is Associate Editor of The Times