Sir Keir Starmer to speak at Jewish Labour Movement virtual conference

Labour leader Keir Starmer is to address the Jewish Labour Movement’s virtual conference at the end of the month.

The keynote speech comes after the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s report into antisemitism in the party, which found evidence of “unlawful acts harassment and discrimination” as well as “political interference” in cases of Jew-hate during Jeremy Corbyn’s tenure.

The Jewish Labour Movement (JLM)’s One Day Conference will take place on Sunday 29 November. Other speakers including JLM parliamentary chair Dame Margaret Hodge MP, and former MPs Ruth Smeeth and Dame Louise Ellman.

Mike Katz, JLM National Chair, and Andrew Gilbert, Conference Chair said: “We are very proud to be hosting Keir Starmer as our keynote speaker in his first public engagement with Jewish Labour members since the publication of the EHRC report.

“There’s a long road ahead to rebuild the relationship between the Jewish community and the Labour Party.”

This comes after former leader Jeremy Corbyn was suspended from Labour, after reacting to the EHRC’s report by saying antisemitism had been “dramatically overstated for political reasons” during his time in charge.

Starmer warned against people saying there’s “no problem with antisemitism” or “that it’s all exaggerated, or a factional attack”, adding that those who do, are “part of the problem ..and should be nowhere near the Labour Party.”

Following Corbyn’s suspension, his supporters rallied around urging the party to reinstate him, with former shadow attorney general, Shami Chakrabarti, reportedly assisting in legal challenges.

Earlier this week during an LBC radio phone-in, Sir Keir said that he would raise the issue with Chakrabarti, the author of an earlier, much-criticised report on antisemitism in the party, when he next spoke to her. “I don’t want to see any Labour Party money or time tied up with yet more legal cases”.