John Mann takes seat in House of Lords to start antisemitism adviser role

Former senior Labour backbencher John Mann has taken his seat in the House of Lords 24 hours after quitting as an MP.

Lord Mann, who will sit on the red benches as a non-affiliated peer, will serve as an independent adviser to the Government on antisemitism, and was praised by community leaders for his role fighting Jew-hate.

The straight-talking politician spent 18 years in the House of Commons as the MP for Bassetlaw.

He made headlines in 2016 when he confronted former London Mayor Ken Livingstone, challenging his remarks about Hitler having ‘supported Zionism’.

His appointment as Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern – the archaic procedure by which an MP resigns – was made on Monday.

He was flanked by supporters former chief rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks and Labour peer Lord Clarke of Hampstead as he swore the oath of allegiance to the Queen.

Simon Johnson, Chief Executive of the Jewish Leadership Council, said: “John Mann has been a stalwart and giant defender of the Jewish community and a committed fighter against anti-Jewish racism throughout his time in the House of Commons. His shoes will be hard to fill on the green benches, where his legacy will endure.

“We can think of no better person to advise the Government in his new role on antisemitism and we are so grateful that he will continue to be able to ensure that there should be no place for anti-Jewish racism anywhere within our society.”

Lord Mann was one of a handful of Labour MPs who supported Mr Johnson’s Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) at second reading as well as the fast-track Brexit timetable.

Lord Mann, who was nominated in Theresa May’s resignation honours list, has been a prominent critic of Jeremy Corbyn, largely over the Labour leader’s handling of antisemitism in the party.