Momentum criticised after suspended Labour members use its banners

Momentum have been criticised after two activists who were suspended and expelled by Labour were pictured with their banners.

Tony Greenstein, who was expelled last month by Labour, and Jackie Walker, suspended in 2016, were seen outside the party HQ on Tuesday, protesting ahead of a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee.

Demonstrating in London’s Victoria Street where the party’s headquaters are located – banners include that of Momentum Brighton and Hove, and the splinter group “Labour Against the Witchunt”, which protests against suspensions for members accused of anti-Semitism.

Jewish Labour Movement spokesperson Ivor Caplin said: “Momentum shouldn’t be allowing people who have been expelled from the Labour Party to hold their banners or attend their meetings. If they are truly committed to Party democracy, they will abide by the Party’s decisions.”

According to users on Twitter, Walker and Greenstein were  chanting “McNicol’s gone, now it’s time for the rest of them”, in reference to the recently-fired General Secretary.

Tony Greenstein was expelled from Labour for three breaches of the party’s regulations. These were “offensive comments online; offensive posts and comments on his blog; and an email in which he mocked the phrase ‘final solution’”.

Jackie Walker has twice been suspended, most recently saying it would be “wonderful if Holocaust day was open to all people who experienced holocaust”, claiming Holocaust Memorial Day was not inclusive enough. She was also dropped as Momentum’s vice chair.

Members of Momentum must also be members of the Labour Party.