JLM’s Mike Katz confirms he is standing down as national chair
Demands of new role as government whip in the Lords behind decision to resign from organisation he has chaired since 2019
Mike Katz has confirmed he standing down as national chair of the Jewish Labour Movement with immediate effect due to the demands of his new role in the House of Lords.
Katz, who became national chair in 2019, having previously served as vice-chair from 2015, has emailed JLM members saying:”As you may be aware, I recently had the privilege of being appointed by the Prime Minister as a Government Whip in the House of Lords.
“As a member of the Government, I cannot give JLM the independent leadership it deserves and which I hope I’ve given the organisation up till now.”
He added:”Since I took over as National Chair in early 2019, JLM has helped take the Labour Party on a huge journey of change – from a place where the leadership was in total, visceral denial about the racism its Jewish members were experiencing to one where we have a leader and Prime Minister who made tackling antisemitism his top priority for the Party.
“The landmark, hugely critical EHRC report into the Party vindicated our position and set the future direction for the Labour Party.
“I was proud to represent our members on the advisory body set up by Keir Starmer to ensure the Party met the EHRC’s recommendations and introduced an independent disciplinary system.”
On the situation in Israel Katz wrote:”Of course, we have been devastated following the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas on 7 October 2023 and our unfolding despair at the plight of the hostages, the impact of the war in Gaza and the growth of far-right populism in the Israeli Government.
“Whilst directly influencing the course of events in Israel seems beyond us, I’m pleased to say that JLM’s relationship with Yair Golan MK and The Democrats is stronger than ever, as is the case with the World Labour Zionist Movement and all our friends and colleagues in Israel who strive for a peaceful, long-term two-state solution.”
Jewish News understands current JLM vice-chair Ella Rose-Jacobs will be appointed as acting as interim chair in the aftermath of Katz’s resignation.
Elections will then take place for a new national chair at JLM’s AGM in November.
A popular figure as head of JLM, Katz is widely credited with ensuring that the movement has continued to grow in size under his leadership, with a younger generation of proud Jewish Labour activists now ready to step up in the organisation.
As national chair Katz won plaudits for his role in helping current Labour leader Keir Starmer with implementing the recommendations of the ground-breaking Equality and Human Rights Commission report, including training MPs, party staff and thousands of members.
He has remained close to the Labour leader and those around him.
It was no surprise to see the Prime Minister, and his wife Victoria shake hands with Katz outside Downing Street as they celebrated last July’s general election victory.
Starmer nominated Katz for a life peerage in December 2024 for the Labour Party as part of that year’s political peerages.
Created as Baron Katz, of Fortune Green in the Lords in January, Katz was rapidly made a government whip, playing a critical role in pushing through the government’s agenda in the Lords as a minister.
Taking over as JLM national chair in April 2019, as the group passed a motion of no confidence in Corbyn and warned of possible disaffiliation, Katz described some local parties as a “hostile environment” for Jews.
He added: “JLM is not going to be campaigning for anybody who has not stood up against antisemitism wherever they have seen it.”
Like many in JLM, Katz was a strong supporter of Starmer’s leadership of Labour, securing his presence at numerous JLM events.
Katz previously served as a councillor in Camden from 2010 to 2014 and was the Labour parliamentary candidate for Hendon in 2017.
He is also a close ally of former JLM officials Adam Langleben and Peter Mason, who where also at the forfront of the organisation’s fight against Corbyn as Labour leader.
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