Third Labour politician questioned by party officials as antisemitism row deepens

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A 3rd Labour politician who attended a now infamous council assembly which sparked renewed antisemitism issues throughout the party has been spoken to by party officials as they examine what occurred.

Sir Keir Starmer’s party has been pitched right into a deepening row in regards to the dealing with of antisemitism allegations, with parliamentary candidate Graham Jones suspended on Tuesday, solely a day after Labour was compelled to droop and withdraw its backing for Rochdale by-election candidate Azhar Ali.

Mr Ali had claimed Israel allowed the October 7 Hamas assault to happen to put the bottom for an invasion of Gaza, for which he later apologised. At the identical assembly, former MP Graham Jones, who had been chosen to run for his outdated Hyndburn seat once more, referred to “f***ing Israel” and appeared to say that Britons who volunteer to battle for the Israel Defence Forces “should be locked up”.

It has now emerged that Hyndburn councillor Munsif Dad, who leads the native authority’s Labour group, is believed to have been on the gathering the place two parliamentary candidates are alleged to have made antisemitic remarks.

There is not any suggestion that Hyndburn councillor Munsif Dad, who leads the native authority’s Labour group, made inappropriate feedback on the assembly and no additional motion has been taken, based on The Telegraph.

The assembly has reignited fears of widespread antisemitism throughout the labour party amongst Jewish members, with some pointing to the Israel assault on Gaza as having sparked a “huge spike in antisemitism”.

Mike Katz, chairman of the JLM, referred to as for the party to step up checks on candidates chosen earlier than the Hamas terror assaults and coaching for candidates to have the ability to recognise and fight antisemitism.

He advised The Independent: “I think the party should bear in mind that the level of antisemitic conspiracy theory and misinformation on social media has really increased since October 7, and go back over to check again what people have said and what they have posted.”

As the fallout from the controversial assembly grew:

Mr Katz added: “Obviously a lot of candidates were selected well before then and are out campaigning in their seats.”

“It is not about political expediency. It is to make sure people understand and recognise antisemitism and discrimination – and are willing to call it out, wherever they see it, as part of their role in promoting community cohesion” he mentioned.

Meanwhile Dame Louise Ellman, a Jewish former MP who give up Labour in 2019 over antisemitism beneath Jeremy Corbyn’s management, mentioned “proper scrutiny” had not been accomplished over the candidates.

She mentioned Sir Keir was “a bit slow” to cope with the newest antisemitism disaster, which introduced the party “into disrepute”.

And, whereas Dame Louise advised Times Radio Labour has been “doing very well in rooting out antisemitism”, she described the newest scandal as “a setback”.

It got here as a 3rd Labour politician has been spoken to through the party’s investigation into the assembly in Rochdale Mr Ali was recorded making antisemitic remarks.

There is not any suggestion that Hyndburn councillor Munsif Dad, who leads the native authority’s Labour group, made inappropriate feedback on the assembly and no additional motion has been taken, it’s understood.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism reminded Labour of its accountability to coach native activists and candidates to identify and sort out antisemitism. It mentioned Labour “in particular” owes an obligation to take action due to the motion plan to drive antisemitism out of the party agreed with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (the EHRC).

A spokesman advised The Independent: “Since we referred Labour to the EHRC and its investigation into the Party, it has been clear that all political parties must rigorously vet their officers and candidates. Failure to do so will inevitably lead to scrutiny and scandal, as we have seen twice in Rochdale in as many days.”

It got here after Martin Forde KC, the lawyer who led a assessment into antisemitism within the party, mentioned Labour’s dealing with of the disaster was “shambolic”.

Labour initially backed Mr Ali, saying he had fallen for a web-based conspiracy principle. But the party dramatically dropped him on Monday night time after it emerged that he had additionally blamed “people in the media from certain Jewish quarters” for fuelling criticism of a pro-Palestinian MP.

Mr Ali will nonetheless seem as Labour’s candidate on the Rochdale poll this month resulting from a deadline for eradicating candidates, however he is not going to be a Labour MP if he wins. The party has suspended Mr Jones pending an investigation and can seemingly choose a brand new candidate to contest Hyndburn on the basic election.

On Tuesday the shadow defence secretary mentioned Labour will “follow the hard evidence” to make sure anybody who doesn’t meet the requirements of the party might be investigated.

John Healey urged anybody else on the assembly who witnessed antisemitism or unacceptable feedback to report it to the party.

Speaking to Sky News, the shadow minister mentioned: “Anyone at that meeting, if there is evidence that they have, that people acted or spoke in a way that doesn’t meet the standards, or is incompatible with the values of our Labour Party, they need to report it, provide it and the Labour Party will take it seriously and investigate it.

He added: “It’s what we do with every case.”

Pushed on whether or not Mr Ali was correctly vetted, Mr Healey mentioned the ed-Rochdale candidate was “widely respected” and “widely supported across communities, including the Jewish community in the North West”.

The Conservatives have mentioned the furore confirmed that claims Labour had modified beneath Sir Keir had been “hollow”.