Labour seeks to stem antisemitism crisis after Ian Austin quits

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Labour seeks to stem antisemitism crisis after Ian Austin quits

Lord Falconer may deal with complaints as Labour faces impact of ninth MP resigning

Dan Sabbagh
Sat 23 Feb 2019 00.06 GMT First published on Fri 22 Feb 2019 18.43 GMT

Labour is considering appointing an independent reviewer to oversee its handling of antisemitism complaints as the party battles to stem the flow of resignations after a ninth MP announced his departure on Friday.

Lord Falconer said he was in advanced conversations with the party’s general secretary, Jennie Formby, about taking up a new position in which he would examine whether the party was handling antisemitism and other complaints fairly. The former lord chancellor, who is respected on all wings of the party, said he had approached Formby with his proposal “because of my horror that the party has not been able to show it is dealing with antisemitism properly”.

Falconer’s potential appointment emerged hours after Ian Austin, who represents Dudley North, said he had resigned as a Labour MP, complaining that a “culture of extremism, antisemitism and intolerance” had taken over the party.

Austin said he had no plans to join the newly formed Independent Group, of eight ex-Labour MPs and three former Tories, although his decision to quit was welcomed by several of its members as a brave and difficult one.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/22/labour-seeks-to-stem-antisemitism-crisis-after-mp-ian-austin-quits

[Behind the Aegis]

1. Doubt they will take it seriously or even care.

It is "just" anti-Semitism, after all and trick by the evil Jews.

[T_i_B]

2. Chris Williamson: Labour has been too apologetic about anti-Semitism

Yep. They are only making things worse

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/chris-williamson-labour-has-been-too-apologetic-about-anti-semitism-1-9618191

Labour MP and Jeremy Corbyn ally Chris Williamson has said the party has been “too apologetic” over anti-Semitism allegations, the Yorkshire Post can reveal.

Speaking at an event in Sheffield hosted by the campaign group Momentum, Mr Williamson also said he had responded to the resignations of Labour MPs last week by singing the 1980s hit by Kool and the Gang - ‘Celebration’.

The Derby North MP suggested that the singing was likely to have been heard by one of the Labour defectors Joan Ryan, as her parliamentary office is near his.

He told the meeting: “The party that has done more to stand up to racism is now being demonised as a racist, bigoted party. I have got to say I think our party's response has been partly responsible for that because in my opinion… we have backed off too much, we have given too much ground, we have been too apologetic.”

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Disgusting.

It is no surprise that Jews are leaving the party. We got a "warning" from our cousins in the UK about not letting this shit happen here. I posted it in this group. It's a good read.

[T_i_B]

4. Unfortunately...

...as this is Chris Williamson it does not surprise me. He does seem to be using Momentum as a platform for a campaign of sectarian bullying. It's high time that Corbyn and Momentum started holding him to account.

[grossproffit]

5. He's been suspended. I'm shooketh!