Outrage after local Labour group passes motion praising Ken Loach
Exclusive: Pro-Corbyn members of Hornsey and Wood Green CLP who tabled two votes praising the director accused of 'wanting to take the party back down into the sewers."
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Pro-Jeremy Corbyn members of Hornsey and Wood Green Labour party have sparked renewed outrage amongst Jewish members after passing a motion praising the director Ken Loach and calling for public screenings of his films to take place locally.
Meanwhile a second motion, also voted through at Wednesday’s CLP meeting, claimed Labour under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership had become a “hostile environment” as a result of the “expulsions of prominent socialists.”
One member of the CLP, which has long suffered with issues relating to the Labour antisemitism crisis, accused the 60 or so activists who backed the motions of “wanting to take the party back down into the sewers.”
Another, said the hard-left faction, who were opposed by around 40 members at the meeting, had “managed to turn themselves into a laughing stock.”
The pro-Loach motion had been proposed by the television actress Margot Leicester, a member of the Stroud Green branch, who had appeared in the BBC2 drama King Charles III, playing Camilla.
Her motion said Loach was one of “the finest British film directors” who has “inspired people who believe in a progressive society.”
It added:”Films from ‘Cathy Come Home’ to ‘I Daniel Blake’ have united and inspired all wings of the Labour Party to fight for a more just society.
” We ask the CLP to screen his films in different parts of the constituency, open to party members and the public. The aim is to combine a social occasion, with education and possible fund raising.”
Loach was expelled from Labour earlier this year over his support for the Labour Against The Witchhunt group, set up to deny or downplay allegations of antisemitism in the party.
He has also courted controversy for saying in response to questions about Holocaust denial that “history is for us all to discuss”.
He claimed there was “no validity” to accusations of antisemitism within Labour and insisted they were designed to undermine Corbyn’s leadership.
In 2018 he called for the deselection of Labour MPs who attended the Enough is Enough protest against antisemitism.
Around 100 members of the CLP attended Wednesday’s meeting, which took place on Zoom.
Tensions rose over claims the meetings chair allowed three speakers to explain why they were supporting the pro-Loach motion, while only one speaker was allowed to speak against.
The chair refused discussion of Loach and antisemitism associations.
The second motion, again passed by a 60-40 majority, said:”This branch deplores the current climate within the party, leading to the loss of up to 150,000 members.
“This includes the expulsion of prominent socialists, and resignations of those disillusioned and angered by these attacks.
” Party discipline is being conducted without proper process or fairness, with new rules applied retrospectively. ”
It also said:” Authoritarian purges combined with a policy and values vacuum have left previously enthusiastic members feeling attacked, demotivated, and reluctant to campaign for the Party. These factional and anti-democratic actions are clearly intended to create a hostile environment for socialists, and make a mockery of the Party’s avowedly democratic socialist values. ”
Jewish News has contacted Labour and Hornsey and Wood Green CLP for comment.
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.