Luciana Berger rejoins Labour after Starmer antisemitism apology
The former Liverpool Wavertree MP - who quit Labour due to antisemitism under Jeremy Corbyn - has accepted an invitation from Keir Starmer to rejoin the party
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Luciana Berger has rejoined the Labour Party after Keir Starmer wrote to her and apologised to her for the “disgusting” antisemitism and death threats she endured under Jeremy Corbyn.
The 41 year former Liverpool Wavertree MP has told Starmer she wishes to rejoin to“finish what you have started” and “make the difference our country so desperately deserves”.
After Berger’s return to Labour was confirmed, the Labour leader tweeted:”I’m delighted Luciana has accepted my invitation to rejoin Labour.
“My test for change was whether those who were rightly appalled by how far we had fallen believe this is their party again.
“I know we’ve more to do but we’re unrecognisable from the party that forced her out.”
Starmer wrote to Berger on February 15 asking her to consider rejoining, The Sunday Times revealed.
It was the day the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) gave the party a clean bill of health over its handling of anti-Jewish racism.
She had kept her decision to rejoin the party after responding to Starmer’s letter a closely-guarded secret.
In his letter Starmer wrote: “It is almost four years to the day since you left our Labour Party. I say ‘our’ deliberately. You left because you were forced out by intimidation, thuggery and racism. Yours was a principled and brave move. But it was one you should never have been forced to take. That day will forever be a stain on Labour’s history.
“I don’t need to explain to you the litany of failures that left you — a Labour MP with a huge future ahead of you — no longer feeling welcome in your own party. Instead, I want to once again apologise.”
She replied saying:” “I am looking forward to rejoining the party and working with you to continue what you have started. It is time to replace this reckless and divisive government and ultimately make the difference our country so desperately deserves.”
Berger also said in her response that she agreed with Starmer that the ending of special measures from the EHRC against Labour was “not a moment for celebration and there is a great deal more to do.”
She latter tweeted on Saturday evening:” The Labour Party has turned a significant corner under Keir’s leadership. I’m pleased to be returning to my political home.”
Berger had resigned in 2019 and was the highest-profile Jewish MP to walk out of the Corbyn led party over antisemitism and the failure to counter Brexit.
She had early been one of Labour’s most effective performers as shadow mental health secretary under Corbyn.
But as the antisemitism crisis begun to unfold, Berger was at the centre of raising concerns about Corbyn, including his response to an antisemitic mural in Tower Hamlets.
She also spoke at the now infamous Enough Is Enough demo in Westminster, where the community turned out in large numbers to protest against Corbyn’s failure on antisemitism.
Berger left Labour as part of the Independent Group but was against it becoming a full blown party. She later joined the Liberal Democrats.
She stood unsuccessfully for the party in 2019 in Finchley and Golders Green.
Berger follows Dame Louise Ellman, former Liverpool Riverside MP, in now rejoined Labour as a high profile Jewish former MP.
In further good news for Starmer, Lord Sainsbury, the former chairman of the Sainsbury’s supermarket chain, has donated £2 million to Labour, it has been confirmed.
The Observer reported thatone of the biggest New Labour-era donors had returned to the party fold saying he was attracted back to Labour by its leader’s desire to “reunite the country around an agenda of economic growth and social justice”.
Labour is now set to announce figures showing the party is now debt free.
Donations from companies and wealthy individuals were less than £400,000 in 2020, but donations of at least £5million have been received over the past year.
Many communal donors, who deserted the party under Corbyn, are amongst those to return.
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.
