JVL co-chair ‘marched out of Labour conference and expelled from party’

Jewish Voice for Labour’s national co-chair Leah Levane has been expelled from the Labour Party and marched out of the annual conference venue over her support for organisations now proscribed by the party for denying or downplaying antisemitism.

A lone protestor from the JVL organisation, standing outside the security barriers at Labour’s conference venue in Brighton on Sunday, confirmed the expulsion and then claimed Levane had been “marched out” of the official conference venue “had her pass ripped up”.

The  JVL activist, who identified himself as “Gary a member of JVL” stood outside the Brighton Centre venue holding a placard bearing photographs of members of the pro-Jeremy Corbyn who had also faced sanctions.

He told Jewish News: “They are all being disciplined by the Labour Party – supposedly for antisemitism.

“What they mean is they are the wrong type of Jews. What that means is they are Jews who stand up for Palestine, they are socialists.”

Gary then added: “So Leah Levane, who is the national co-chair has this morning been marched out of conference, had her pass ripped up, and been expelled from the party.”

Asked what reason Labour had given for the expulsion Gary said:”They said she had liked some social media posts a while ago from the organisations that are now proscribed.

“It’s retrospective trawling through social media.”

Jewish News also attempted to speak with one of the eight members of Labour’s ruling NEC who had refused to vote in favour of the rule change on disciplinary processes are required following the EHRC report into antisemitism.

But Mish Rahman walked off saying “I am not going to speak to you – I don’t want to speak to you” when asked to explain his actions.

JVL have been contacted for comment over Levane’s expulsion.