Peter Willsman: Labour activist in antisemitism row re-elected to senior party position

Jeremy Corbyn:
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Kate Proctor4 September 2018
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A controversial left-wing activist whose comments about Jews led to outcry within the Labour Party has been re-elected to serve in a senior party position.

Peter Willsman was recorded criticising British rabbis who had complained about anti-Semitism as being like “Trump fanatics” and making up information.

Deputy Labour Party leader Tom Watson described him as a “loud mouthed bully” following the incident in July and the Board of Deputies of British Jews called for him to be expelled from the party.

Today the staunch Corbyn-supporter has been re-elected to the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) by members after a ballot held over the summer.

He originally formed part of the Momentum backed “JC9” slate but was kicked off by the organisation after his comments were made public.

Richard Angel, director of Progress – Labour’s centrist campaign group, said: “The re-election of Pete Willsman shows institutional anti-Semitism in the party and the read need for action.

“With Willsman at the top table that is less likely to happen.”

Denny Taylor, spokesperson for Labour Against anti-Semitism campaign group said: “The election of the ‘#JC9’ slate by Labour members to the party’s NEC raises further concerns about institutional anti-Semitism in the party.”

The NEC oversees the overall direction of the party and policy and is made up of 39 members. The nine positions up for election were all for constituency Labour party representatives.

Mr Willsman’s comments about Jews were recorded at an NEC meeting he attended on July 17.

At the time a spokesperson for Momentum said: “Our movement is more than half a million strong and we must hold those who represent us to an even higher standard than ordinary Labour party members.”

His re-election heaps pressure on Mr Corbyn to take disciplinary action against Mr Willsman as he remains a Labour party member and is not being investigated over the comments.

It will also raise questions about how seriously the leadership is taking complaints of anti-Semitism within the party as the NEC goes into what is set to be a highly fractious meeting tomorrow on whether to adopt the full International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance [IHRA] definition and all its examples.

Some have pointed to comments Mr Corbyn made earlier this summer where he said “anyone who denies that this [anti-Semitism] has surfaced in our party is clearly actually wrong” and “contributing to the problem.”

Mr Willsman, who is a member of the Oxford East CLP, apologised to Labour General Secretary Jennie Formby and has referred himself for equalities training.

Momentum maintained its support for eight other candidates elected to the NEC who all support Mr Corbyn and have been elected to the NEC by members.

They are Yasmin Dar, a Manchester City councillor, Jon Lansman, the founder of Momentum, Navendu Mishra, a Unison organiser, Claudia Webbe, an Islington councillor, Darren Williams, a Public and Commercial Services Union representative, Huda Emi, a Labour activist and anti-racism campaigner, Rachel Garnham, representing the mid-Bedfordshire CLP, and Ann Henderson, a member of Labour’s Scottish Executive Committee.

Mr Taylor added: “Even if the NEC does adopt the IHRA definition at its meeting on Tuesday, it is difficult to believe that these members will accept the definition and uphold its parameters to challenge racial hatred against Jews in the party.

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