Corbyn’s ‘Jewish liaison officer’ expelled from Labour
Heather Mendick - who repeatedly claimed antisemitism was being 'weaponised against the left' and who supported disgraced ex-MP Chris Williamson - has confirmed her expulsion from the party in a lengthy video
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
A Labour activist whose appointment as Jeremy Corbyn’s “Jewish liaison officer” sparked anger within the community has been expelled from the party.
Heather Mendick confirmed her own expulsion from Labour in a 25 minute long social media video claiming she was the victim of a “witch-hunt” by party bosses.
The former Hackney South constituency Labour party secretary was placed under investigation last September in a lengthy charge sheet, including repeated claims antisemitism was being “weaponised against the left”, and defending shamed ex-Labour MP Chris Williamson over claims of anti-Jewish racism.
In a video explaining her expulsion, Mendick confessed she had not voted Labour in the local elections, and expressed support for a Green candidate in Hackney.
Confirming her exit from the party she said:”I feel relieved. The Labour Party is a cess pit.”
Momentum member Mendick had been hired by Corbyn in 2019 to “build bridges” with the community, as the antisemitism crisis in Labour grew.
She was asked to do the role one day a week, despite her record for criticising calls for the party to adopt the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism, and writing of the “weaponisation” of anti-Jewish racism.
At one stage Mendick also backed Chris Williamson’s “Democracy Roadshow” – a tour the shamed ex-MP conducted around the country aiming to whip up activists into calling for the deselection of parliamentarians, including Luciana Berger and Louise Ellman in Liverpool.
The Community Security Trust once identified a Mendick Twitter account as being amongst the most influential pro-Corbyn outlets.
She denied claims it had now been deleted.
Her expulsion from Labour comes amongst a succession of other high-profile disciplinary interventions by the party.
Jewish News last week revealed that Jewish Voice For Labour co-founder Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi had been expelled, as was Haringey councillor Joy Wallace.
One senior Labour Party source predicted more expulsions could folllow in the new year, as the party aimed to put itself “in the best possible position” to win the next general election.
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