Labour activist in antisemitism row Peter Willsman reelected to NEC despite Momentum removing #JC9 backing
A Labour activist who rubbished claims of antisemitism within the party, arguing the allegations were being made by "Trump fanatics", has been re-elected to the national executive body after a ballot of members.
Peter Willsman had originally been backed by Momentum as part of the grassroots organisation's #JC9 (Jeremy Corbyn) slate of candidates, but the group removed its backing amid a row over his comments, revealed by the Jewish Chronicle over the summer.
In the recording, made at a previous NEC meeting, Willsman claimed there was little solid evidence of antisemitism in the party. “And some of these people in the Jewish community support Trump – they are Trump fanatics and all the rest of it,” he said.
Willsman was speaking shortly after a group of rabbis had warned about the scale of anti-Jewish feeling in Labour. Willsman said in response: “We should ask the 70 rabbis: ‘Where is your evidence of severe and widespread antisemitism in this party?’”
Shortly after the recording surfaced Momentum removed his backing, saying Willsman's remarks were “deeply insensitive and inappropriate” and that its candidates should be held to a higher standard. However ballot papers had already been sent out days before it came to light.
Chris Williamson, a former Labour frontbencher and leading Corbynite, praised what he called a "clean sweep" for the JC9.
He tweeted: "Bish-bash-bosh. Despite the best efforts of the haters and the smearers it's a clean sweep for the #JC9, Yes 9, in Labour's NEC election. This proves that together we are strong."
But Momentum made no mention of Willsman in their valedictory response.
Laura Parker, Momentum's National Coordinator, said: “These results are a fantastic victory for ordinary grassroots members and another step forward in building a reinvigorated, democratic Labour party that is capable of winning the next election.
"The success of all eight Momentum backed candidates builds on our NEC results from last year, and we're now looking forward to this year’s Labour Conference where the democracy review and open selections for parliamentary candidates are set to be debated.”
However, questions are already being raised about the candidate who received the most votes, Yasmine Dar, after a video emerged of her supporting the Islamic Revolution.
https://twitter.com/JRogan3000/status/1036666071942606849
Comedian and campaigner Eddie Izzard lost out in his attempts to be elected once again, this time by less than 3,000 votes. The entire slate of ‘moderate’ candidates supported by the Labour First and Progress groups also failed to gain a single foothold.
At the weekend, Momentum revealed plans to shake up Labour’s selection procedure at this autumn's conference, saying it should be “democratic, give a fair chance to all candidates and encourage positive campaigning”.
It argues that candidates should not have to face sitting MPs, claiming "essential reform" is essential "if we are going to transform Britain for the many, not the few".
"We are also a party on the verge of government, and when Corbyn’s Labour goes into government, we all go into government. This means Labour MPs need to stay close to their communities, in tune with their needs and understand that the deep, collective knowledge of our half a million members – who live and work in every kind of community across Britain – is an invaluable resource which must be utilised," the group said on Saturday.
"Momentum will work with NEC members, the trade union movement, and CLP delegates in order to ensure the best possible rule change is passed at this year’s Party Conference to achieve this end."