Labour Party Conference Diary
search

The latest Jewish News

Read this week’s digital edition

Click Here

Labour Party Conference Diary

Lee Harpin reflects on a surprise appearance at Labour Friends of Israel's event by Corbyn Barry Gardiner, who was in Jeremy Corbyn inner circle

The Brent North MP Barry Gardiner was a surprise attendee at Tuesday night’s Labour Friends of Israel conference reception at the Brighton Hilton hotel.

Gardiner has made his support for Israel known in the pre-Jeremy Corbyn years. But more recently he has been a friend of those on the left not known for their praise of the Jewish state.

And literally 30 minutes before attending the LFI bash, Gardiner had been seen attending a rally organised by the Socialist Campaign Group, held in a circus tent at The World Transformed festival.

Gardiner was lapping up the support from the SCG for a parliamentary Bill he has circulated.

He appeared to also be present as Zarah Sultana MP led the chants of “Free, free Palestine” amongst the small gathering of Corbynista fanatics.

Lisa Nandy delivered another excellent speech at the LFI rally – setting out what she said was Labour’s pledge to stand firm in its support of Israel, while also standing up for the Palestinians and a two state solution. Amongst those also in the room were shadow defence secretary John Healey, shadow communities sec Steve Reed, Alison McGovern and Katherine West.

It was also interesting to see general secretary David Evans and ethics and standards adviser Jane Ramsey – two of Labour’s most effective operators in the fight against antisemitism – in the room through the LFI event.

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner was seen leading the karaoke session, performing lead vocal alongside a band, in renditions of classics by Oasis and Blur. But more serious, and more reassuring news also emerged about Rayner’s performances in Labour rulling national executive committee meetings. Sources who have sat in the room alongside Rayner confirm she has been “staunch” in her backing of the EHRC rule change recommendations, unlike at least eight other NEC members associated with previou leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Support your Jewish community. Support your Jewish News

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.

read more: