Labour suspends local branch’s ex-secretary over ‘arbeit macht frei’ tweet

A former local Labour party’s branch secretary has been suspended over posting a Holocaust-themed image online, as the party seeks to assure Jewish members it’s clamping down on anti-Semitism.

It was confirmed that Marianne Tellier’s membership has been suspended for an ‘anti-Semitic’ image published on Twitter on March 23.

The activist, who was the secretary of Park & Arbourthorne Labour Party in Sheffield up until Thur, posted a picture of a sign reading ‘Arbeit macht frei’, alongside the translation – “work sets you free”. The phrase was used by the Nazis above entrances to concentration camps such as Auschwitz.

A Labour Party spokesperson said they are “committed to challenging and campaigning against antisemitism in all its forms.

“Any complaints of antisemitism are taken extremely seriously. These are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures and any appropriate disciplinary action taken.”

According to BBC Look North Yorkshire, Louise Haigh, Sheffield Heeley MP said “the unacceptable & insensitive tweets are repulsive & it is absolutely right that she has now been suspended. ” The tweet has since been deleted.

Tellier’s Twitter profile header has a map of Israel/Palestine, showing apparent loss of land for the Palestinians, and she describes herself as “Confrontational. Arrogant because I’m right.”

This comes after the chairwoman of Labour’s disputes panel stood down amid a new anti-Semitism row in the party, after she appeared to defend a councillor suspended for alleged Holocaust denial. 

Christine Shawcroft said she was “wrong and misguided” to have sent an email calling for a council candidate in Peterborough to have his suspension lifted as she had not been aware of all the information in the case.

Her resignation came as Jeremy Corbyn has pledged to deal with 70 outstanding cases involving claims of anti-Semitism within Labour ranks as soon as possible.

This comes in the wake of a new storm of anti-Semitism that has plagued the party in the last week – after it was revealed Jeremy Corbyn appeared to oppose the removal of an anti-Semitic mural.

In an exclusive interview with Jewish News in this week’s paper, the Labour leader insisted he was not anti-Semitic, and was opposed to all forms of racism within the party.

Read the full Exclusive Jewish News interview with Jeremy Corbyn here.