McDonnell-backed group claims JLM ‘stabbed Labour in the back’

A Labour pressure group has attacked the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) in a fiery blog post calling for its disaffiliation from the party.

“[JLM] is campaigning to make a Labour government impossible! They are stabbing us in the back,” the blog post reads.

“That is insupportable. The JLM must be disaffiliated from Labour as soon as possible.”

This comes after a no confidence vote was passed “overwhelmingly” at JLM’s annual general meeting.

“Their resolution is intended to feed the allegations of ‘institutional antisemitism’ against Labour, and as such has been eagerly gobbled up by the Tory press,” the blog says.

The article written by Labour Representation Committee (LRC) national committee political secretary Mick Brooks was published on the group’s website yesterday.

It rejects the claim former Labour MP Luciana Berger, who defected to the Independent Group, was driven out of the party.

“Let us be clear. Luciana Berger left the Party of her own accord. In doing so she betrayed the thousands of her constituents who voted for her as a Labour candidate,” the blog reads.

“The effect of the creation of the ‘Independent Group’ of MPs of which she is a member will be to try to keep the Tories in office.”

Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer John McDonnell is understood to be serving at the LRC in an honorary capacity.

A spokesperson for John McDonnell said: “John is happy JLM decided to remain affiliated to the Labour Party.

“John wants the JLM to continue to play a full role in the Labour Party.

Jewish Labour Movement vice chair Joe Goldberg said: “This article makes it clear that they will blame Jews for any failure at the ballot box, further enabling racism towards Jews.

“The language of ‘betray’ and ‘backstabbing’ are dog whistles to antisemitism that Jews have experienced too many times to monstrous effect.

“Yet the Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, continues as its [sic] president.

“The Labour Party cannot in good faith claim to be acting against antisemitism and whilst its leadership in the shadow cabinet and the NEC associate themselves with this organisation.”

When interviewed by Jewish News last year about his ties with the LRC, McDonnell replied: “I’m not going to disassociate myself from an organisation I founded because they disagree with me or I disagree with them on these particular issues.

“On most issues I do agree with them and they have been a beneficial force in the Labour party and in other policy areas.”

• Read Jewish News’ interview with John McDonnell in full here