JVL’s Wimborne-Idrissi claims ‘Holocaust deniers’ ignored by Labour
In comments made on a new podcast Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi claims Holocaust deniers are ignored 'over and over again' by the party who 'look at their credentials' and say 'Oh, he's a right-winger, no, no, he's fine. He can carry on.'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Jewish Voice For Labour co-founder Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi has claimed the Labour Party has ignored cases of Holocaust denial “over and over again” because the culprits are “right-wing.”
In comments made in a new podcast, Wimborne-Idrissi alleged: “There are cases where people have said ‘we’ve got a Holocaust denier in our branch. What are you going to do about it?'”
She claimed such admissions were then greeted with the response: “Oh, let’s have a look at his credentials. Oh, he’s a right-winger, no, no, he’s fine. He can carry on.”
The pro-Jeremy Corbyn activist made her controversial claims only weeks before she was due to be welcomed onto Labour’s ruling NEC body, having won the support of a left-wing faction of the party in recent internal elections.
Wimborne-Idrissi is also due to speak at a fringe JVL event on Monday, held to coincide with Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool.
She also that Labour’s party “bureaucracy was fanatical about perceived antisemitism” while “failing to deal with real antisemitism.”
The JVL media officer also criticised attempts to pursue a “zero tolerance” approach to antisemitism in Labour, arguing the party was no different to wider society in terms of prejudices.
She spoke of “this mad idea of zero tolerance – a discredited idea and its foolish.”
And claimed the very definition of what antisemitism was had been “changed” as a result of the influence of Israel and Zionism.
“The way the whole conception about what antisemitism is, how it should be combated,… the role of Israel in that whole equation, and where Zionism fits in is absolutely fascinating,” said Wimborne-Idrissi, citing a book written by Anthony Lerman.
“We are now in a situation where expression of opposition to Zionism… Israel is not the solution to antisemitism. It is critical to the Zionist idea, if you have a Jewish state antisemitism will be solved.
“Obviously this has not been the case, so the fight against antisemitism shifts to a defence of Israel.”
In further remarks Wimborne-Idrissi claimed Labour’s NEC “meets irregularly” and that the 40 member strong body had reduced power in the party, with the “influence of the left tiny.”
“Our voice is going to be minute,” she claimed.
In conversation with Mark Sedden, a former Labour NEC member, Winborne-Idrissi also insisted the party’s leadership meanwhile “dreamed up all sorts of things about left wing people that are incredibly divisive and damaging.”
In further controversial claims, made to the Palestine Deep Dive podcast, she suggested the Jewish Labour Movement had been at the centre of fabricating claims of antisemitism in Labour, with the publication of allegations of alleged anti-Jewish conduct in the Oxford University Labour Club.
“The accusations that were made have been investigated and found to be entirely fabrications,” Wimborne-Idrissi incorrectly claimed.
A report conducted into the allegations by Baroness Royall in 2016 had concluded there have been “some incidents” of antisemitic behaviour towards Jewish students in the Oxford Labour club.
In further remarks, Wimborne-Idrissi condemned the Board of Deputies, the Jewish Leadership Council and “a whole host of mainstream groups” for calling for her to be expelled from Labour.
She said she herself believed in free speech and debate, on issues such as the legitimacy of the Jewish state.
While Wimborne-Idrissi said she accepted the right of JLM to exist within Labout “I don’t accept their right to speak for every other Jew.”
She cited the recently published Forde Report, claiming JLM”s antisemitism training was not effective.
Jewish News approached Labour for comment over Wimborne-Idrissi’s remarks about Holocaust deniers in the party.
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.
