EXCLUSIVE: Labour suspend new Haringey councillor after ‘rabbi’ tweet
Party sources confirmed on Tuesday that Labour had suspended Joy Wallace after tweets including claims a rabbi was “paid and rewarded handsomely” for criticising Jeremy Corbyn
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
A Haringey Labour councillor at the centre of antisemitism claims has been suspended by the party, Jewish News can reveal.
Party sources confirmed on Tuesday that Labour had suspended Joy Wallace in accordance with standard investigative and membership processes.
Wallace, elected in the Fortis Green ward in last month’s local elections, had earlier been placed under investigation by Labour following tweets linked to her on an account with the name @JoyWall79169497.
Among the tweets highlighted was one alleging that a Rabbi was “paid and rewarded handsomely” for criticising Jeremy Corbyn on BBC Radio 4.
Another said of Conservative MP Priti Patel: “She does not consider her parents refugees/migrants or in fact that her ENTIRE family are ethnic people… because she has straight hair and nose. Her skin might be vitiligo or a strong sunbed?!”
An administrative suspension means that Wallace cannot attend any party meetings including meetings of her own branch, constituency, annual conference or any other Party event.
She also cannot hold office within the Party at any level.
The Labour leader of Haringey Council has warned local party councillors she “will not tolerate antisemitism” amid concerns over newly elected representatives in the borough.
Council leader Peray Ahmet also warned Labour councillors that they will be expected to resign if they fail to declare any damaging conduct from their pasts.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
