Liverpool Riverside MP Lousie Ellman is president of the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM), whose now-resigned chair Jeremy Newmark has attacked the new ‘Jewish Voice for Labour’ (JVL) group set up last year.
Where JLM is firm on the centrality of Israel to Jewish identity, JVL’s website says it “does not make promoting the centrality of Israel to Jewish life a condition of membership” and has attacked JLM for promoting Israel.
Ms Ellman and the CLP executive last year blocked an attempt by Riverside CLP (constituency Labour party) to call for Labour to investigate ‘interference’ by Israeli state agencies in the workings of the party in the wake of Al Jazeera’s controversial undercover documentary, The Lobby, in which JLM was specifically mentioned.
It’s safe to say that there is tension between the two groups – and last night, Riverside CLP voted to affiliate to JVL. The CLP chair, Nev Bann, resigned as a result.
Riverside CLP has been at the centre of controversy after the CLP was suspended and then reinstated only on condition of it being run on a branch/delegate structure instead of the ‘all member’ basis it had operated on until then – a move condemned by left-wing members as a politically-driven to support the right in retaining its influence and to protect ‘centrist’ councillors. The reason for the suspension was alleged antisemitism – an allegation hotly denied by members and which was ultimately dropped with no action taken.
At least one other Liverpool CLP is discussing a similar affiliation move.
The SKWAWKBOX needs your support. This blog is provided free of charge but depends on the generosity of its readers to be viable. If you can afford to, please click here to arrange a one-off or modest monthly donation via PayPal. Thanks for your solidarity so this blog can keep bringing you information the Establishment would prefer you not to know about.
If you wish to reblog this post for non-commercial use, you are welcome to do so – see here for more.
The JLM is simply masquerading as a Socialist Labour organisation when in fact its actual purpose as a Zionist affiliate, is to protect the barbaric actions of the apartheid State of Israel and attack Jeremy Corbyn for his support of the Palestinians.
Well done to Riverside CLP for supporting the JVL who do not put Zionism at the centre of the Jewish religion.
Branch delegate CLPs are undemocratic and this structure should be abolished.
Well done to the JVL for also taking a stance that acts as a much needed counter balance to the JLM. Great that Nev Bann has resigned , a much need fresh start and to have proper representation not some small but powerful grp who use their faith as a weapon to undermine Labour in support of the State of Israel with it’s destruction of the people of Palestine .
How on earth Ellman can “block” the legitimate democratic workings of a CLP is utterly shocking , far to much power in the hands of one person , it has to change.
Big support for all Jewish members of the Labour party – you have been with us from the beginning. Let’s hope JVL can reform the murky undergrowth that has sadly grown up in this field.
Up until now Riverside CLP Meetings have merely provided a stage for MP Louise Ellman and Lord Mayor Joe Anderson to bandstand, along with the usual suspects being allowed to gerrymander, at every opportunity, for ninety minutes of a two hour meeting.
But following the resignation of the absolute worst Chair I have ever seen, let’s hope Riverside CLP can now get on with the business of listening to, reflecting the views of, and acting on behalf of its Membership – the vast majority of whom are, and have always been, pro Corbyn.
Oops! I said ‘gerrymander’ instead of ‘’filibuster’…. 😬
… and “grandstand” NOT “bandstand”?