Labour investigates claims of ‘antisemitic abuse’ at local branch meeting
Probe follows calls for local MP Sam Tarry to condemn incident in which young member allegedly subjected to antisemitic abuse and felt 'intimidated and bullied'
Jewish News understands Labour is investigating claims a Labour party member was subjected to antisemitic abuse and bullying at a local meeting.
The incident allegedly occurred during a meeting of Ilford South’s Cranbrook and Valentine branch on Monday after a member opposed a motion critical of the Board of Deputies’ 10-point plan to tackle antisemitism.
Student activist Alex Holmes, 21, lodged an official complaint to the party on Wednesday.
Holmes, who is the vice-chairman of the Ilford South Labour constituency, said he received support from Labour leader and leadership candidates after tweeting about the incident on Monday evening.
Describing the meeting as the worst he had ever attended, he accused members who proposed the motion of using “multiple antisemitic tropes to make their point that the Board of Deputies is a ‘Tory organisation’ ‘illegally interfering in the Labour leadership contest.'”
“Racists of any kind have no place anywhere near the Labour party, nor any other mainstream political party,” he added.
Local councillors in the Redbridge Labour group voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday in favour of an investigation.
The group said they felt “extremely concerned to hear a young party member felt intimidated and bullied” after opposing a motion strongly critical of the Board of Deputies’ 10-point plan to tackle antisemitism, which was released on Sunday.
“In addition we are led to believe antisemitic tropes were directed at the member because of his objection to a motion,” they said.
Ilford South MP Sam Tarry, elected to the seat in December, faced calls this week to condemn the motion and incident. “I always take any allegation of racism extremely seriously,” he wrote on Tuesday.
He added: “I’ve been speaking to members this morning who were in attendance at the local ward branch meeting last night, including the two Jewish members who proposed the motion.
“There are conflicting accounts of what happened and what was said. The allegations are very serious and should be looked at carefully. If any allegation is upheld, there should be absolutely zero tolerance.”
Labour has been approached for comment.
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.
