UK's Labour Party spars with BBC over charges of anti-Semitism

[webfact]

UK's Labour Party spars with BBC over charges of anti-Semitism

 

FILE PHOTO: Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks at the launch of Labour's European election campaign in Kent, Britain, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn's office interfered in independent party discipline processes aimed at rooting out anti-Semitism, the BBC said on Wednesday, a claim that the Labour Party sharply rejected.

 

A BBC investigation spoke to former Labour officials who said top party figures, including Corbyn's communications director Seumas Milne and general secretary Jennie Formby, had minimised complaints of anti-Semitism against party members.

 

Labour said the accusations were "deliberate and malicious misrepresentations designed to mislead the public".

 

Labour has battled accusations of anti-Semitism since 2016 and Corbyn - a veteran campaigner for Palestinian rights - as well as other senior party officials have been criticised for failing to take decisive action to deal with it.

 

British Jewish groups have accused Labour of becoming institutionally anti-Semitic, and the issue has played a part in Labour's failure to take electoral advantage of the Conservative government's turmoil over Brexit.

 

The BBC quoted an email from Milne telling Labour's internal complaints team that "something's going wrong, and we're muddling up political disputes with racism".

 

Labour said this misrepresented Milne's email, which referred to a dispute between Jewish Labour members with Zionist and anti-Zionist views. A fuller extract of the email read: "If we're more than very occasionally using disciplinary action against Jewish members for anti-Semitism, something's going wrong, and we're muddling up political disputes with racism."

 

The BBC investigation also quoted former party members who felt a hostile atmosphere towards Jews within the party in recent years, who were sometimes challenged over Israeli government actions by other party members.

 

Nine lawmakers quit the party this year, citing the leadership's handling of anti-Semitism as well as its stance on Brexitas reasons for leaving.

 

British foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said the BBC investigation showed that Corbyn was either "wilfully blind to anti-Semitism or anti-Semitic himself".

 

Labour's deputy leader, Tom Watson, who is frequently critical of Corbyn, said he was "shocked, chilled and appalled" by the allegations in the BBC report.

 

Labour's press office said the party was "implacably opposed to anti-Semitism," and that some of the former officials quoted by the BBC had "personal and political axes to grind" against Corbyn.

 

Britain's Conservatives face regular accusations of hostility towards Muslims. On Monday broadcaster Channel 4 published a survey of 892 Conservative Party members by pollsters YouGov which showed that 56% believed Islam was a general threat to Britain's way of life.

 

(Reporting by David Milliken; Editing by Leslie Adler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-07-11

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[TopDeadSenter]

Traditionally Labour were the party that supported British blue collar workers. Since they abandoned their base(and vice-versa) to court the "progressive" movement, and their play adoration of Palestine in a drive to impress UK muslims they have been aimlessly floundering around. The only reason nowadays to support them would be as a protest vote against the Tories. It seems antisemitism is now the only glue holding Labour together. Good luck getting rid of that.

[Chomper Higgot]

29 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Traditionally Labour were the party that supported British blue collar workers. Since they abandoned their base(and vice-versa) to court the "progressive" movement, and their play adoration of Palestine in a drive to impress UK muslims they have been aimlessly floundering around. The only reason nowadays to support them would be as a protest vote against the Tories. It seems antisemitism is now the only glue holding Labour together. Good luck getting rid of that.

Because of course ‘progressive’ policies are somehow detrimental to the working class?

[ezzra]

Nowadays, it's no longer tabu or harmful in hating someone, their cause platform or affiliations, and do that with pride, as jews and now Israel, were and still are the universal favorite target to hate, discriminate and accuse of everything under the sun from Nazisem to apartheid, the current sentiments in the Labour party headed by the openly chief Palestinians sympitizer and supporter jeremy Corbyn, and as long as voters sees nothing wrong with this ideology, people like corbyn and his ilks will continue to prosper...

[TopDeadSenter]

19 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Because of course ‘progressive’ policies are somehow detrimental to the working class?

Detrimental? I would say disastrous. Open borders, welcome all without any skills has ruined the unskilled and low skilled jobs market for our native sons. Of course technology has not helped seeing as many jobs are redundant nowadays but flooding the UK with unskilled migrants. Yes, total disaster for traditional labour voters.

[Bluespunk]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Labour's press office said the party was "implacably opposed to anti-Semitism," and that some of the former officials quoted by the BBC had "personal and political axes to grind" against Corbyn.

And by failing to deal with the anti-Semitic behaviour of labour members, some quite senior, you have given them the perfect whetstone to sharpen that axe. 

 

Those attacking corbyn over his lack of action over anti semitism may well have personal grievances with him, but that does not make their criticism wrong.  

[rocketman777]

anti-Semitism,   which has been redefined by to suit the propaganda of the Zionist, is just a way of trying to undermine the Labor Party and Corbyn in particular.

 

Of the conservative party members approx 80% are signed up with Conservative Friends of Israel  (CFI)   group

 

Where as the equivalent  ' Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) ' group has a very low number( approx 20) of Labor members

 

This does not suit the Zionist agenda and limits the Israeli governments influence on Labor policy..

 

The documentary by Aljazeera  'The Lobby' exposed  the deliberate policy directed from the Israeli embassy and defacto the Israeli government to undermine the Labor party with antisemitism smear tactics

 

https://www.aljazeera.com/investigations/thelobby/

 

 

[sanemax]

28 minutes ago, rocketman777 said:

 

 

Where as the equivalent  ' Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) ' group has a very low number( approx 20) of Labor members

 

 

No, there are 80 Labour MP's in the LFI

[Laughing Gravy]

You criticice Israel for crimes to humanity then you get thrown the anti-semantic card. Or even racists which needs to be reminded that Jews, Muslims or Christians are not a race. If you question anything about Israel you are given the label of anti semitism, which is a load of rollocks.

[vogie]

Just because Corbyn supports Hamas that wants to destroy Israel, does that make him an anti-Semite.????

[RuamRudy]

57 minutes ago, vogie said:

Just because Corbyn supports Hamas that wants to destroy Israel, does that make him an anti-Semite.????

Does Hamas hate Israel because it is a predominantly Jewish state, or because Palestinians were displaced to make way for it?

[vogie]

1 minute ago, RuamRudy said:

Does Hamas hate Israel because it is a predominantly Jewish state, or because Palestinians were displaced to make way for it?

This is not about Hamas hating Israel, this is about Corbyn siding with Hamas, do you think it is acceptable for a politician to take sides with terrorists who wish to wipe the only Jewish country off the face of the earth.

Surely nobody can deny that anti-Semetism has become more of a problem in the Labour Party since Corbyn took office.

[goldenbrwn1]

I advise anyone here commenting to watch the panorama program aired yesterday evening on BBC1. Shocking tbh.

[Jingthing]

I don't know how deeply Labour is infected with the disease of antisemitism but it obviously is to some degree. Their leadership should work harder to make it more clear that there is no place in their party for that. If they don't do that, many people will come to the conclusion that the charges have truth to them and you can't blame people for coming to that conclusion. 

[RuamRudy]

1 hour ago, vogie said:

This is not about Hamas hating Israel, this is about Corbyn siding with Hamas, do you think it is acceptable for a politician to take sides with terrorists who wish to wipe the only Jewish country off the face of the earth.

Surely nobody can deny that anti-Semetism has become more of a problem in the Labour Party since Corbyn took office.

Claims of anti-semitism have certainly become more prominent since Corbyn took over - whether there is actually a problem and, if so, whether it is a relatively modern phenomenon, I have no idea. Anti-semitism was, to my understanding, rife across many sectors of the UK in those less enlightened days when talking about 'coons' and 'pakis' was, likewise, not frowned upon, so I am not so sure that he has been a precursor for any shift backwards in terms of attitude.

 

Nowadays, however, criticism of Israel is a very fraught business, with cries of anti-semitism being leveled at anyone dares to suggest that the Palestinians have gotten a raw deal. 

 

Hamas - they are a different kettle of fish, of course. But there is a long history of covert contacts between politicians and terrorist organisations. Does Corbyn think, possibly naively, that he can appeal to the moderates, and in the full glare of the public eye, without drawing criticism? I don't know. What I do know, however, is that, for all the noise the MSM has been making about Labour's alleged anti-semitism, they have been incredibly silent about the Tory party's alleged islamophobia. 

 

new poll finds widespread Islamophobia among Conservative Party members

[vogie]

6 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

Claims of anti-semitism have certainly become more prominent since Corbyn took over - whether there is actually a problem and, if so, whether it is a relatively modern phenomenon, I have no idea. Anti-semitism was, to my understanding, rife across many sectors of the UK in those less enlightened days when talking about 'coons' and 'pakis' was, likewise, not frowned upon, so I am not so sure that he has been a precursor for any shift backwards in terms of attitude.

 

Nowadays, however, criticism of Israel is a very fraught business, with cries of anti-semitism being levied at anyone dares to suggest that the Palestinians have gotten a raw deal. 

 

Hamas - they are a different kettle of fish, of course. But there is a long history of covert contacts between politicians and terrorist organisations. Does Corbyn think, possibly naively, that he can appeal to the moderates, and in the full glare of the public eye, without drawing criticism? I don't know. What I do know, however, is that, for all the noise the MSM has been making about Labour's alleged anti-semitism, they have been incredibly silent about the Tory party's alleged islamophobia. 

 

new poll finds widespread Islamophobia among Conservative Party members

RR, why are you deflecting from the real problem which is anti-Semetism in the Labour Party to Islamophobia in the Tory Party, there may be a problem, quite frankly if there is it is certainly not on the grand scale of Corbyns clique.

This is not something that the MSM has made up, this is being discussed by decent Labour members, how many MPs and now peers have left the Labour Party through anti-Semetism, it's rife.

Should you wish to deny the problems of the far left Marxist lot that is now Labour, well that is your prerogative, but you may have difficulty convincing most people.

[bristolboy]

10 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Detrimental? I would say disastrous. Open borders, welcome all without any skills has ruined the unskilled and low skilled jobs market for our native sons. Of course technology has not helped seeing as many jobs are redundant nowadays but flooding the UK with unskilled migrants. Yes, total disaster for traditional labour voters.

If those open borders are such a disaster why is it that northern european workers are faring so much better than their counterparts in the uk? Maybe, just maybe because social programs have been slashed and the NHS underfunded under Tory rule. There's only one developed nation with greater income inequality and less social mobility: the USA. Towards the condition of which the Tories clearly aspire

[RuamRudy]

2 minutes ago, vogie said:

RR, why are you deflecting from the real problem which is anti-Semetism in the Labour Party to Islamophobia in the Tory Party, there may be a problem, quite frankly if there is it is certainly not on the grand scale of Corbyns clique.

This is not something that the MSM has made up, this is being discussed by decent Labour members, how many MPs and now peers have left the Labour Party through anti-Semetism, it's rife.

Should you wish to deny the problems of the far left Marxist lot that is now Labour, well that is your prerogative, but you may have difficulty convincing most people.

On the one hand you say that there 'may be a problem' with islamophobia in the Tory party, suggesting that you are uncertain, but on the other hand you are sure that it is not on the scale of the Labour party's alleged anti-semitism. You seem very certain about something of which you admit you don't really know.

 

As for deflection - I don't see it as such. I think that the MSM is complicit in seeking to undermine Corbyn in an attempt to discredit him and maintain the status quo. If they were unbiased and principled in their reporting, they would be equally as outraged by the Tory party. 

 

 

[vogie]

Just now, RuamRudy said:

On the one hand you say that there 'may be a problem' with islamophobia in the Tory party, suggesting that you are uncertain, but on the other hand you are sure that it is not on the scale of the Labour party's alleged anti-semitism. You seem very certain about something of which you admit you don't really know.

 

As for deflection - I don't see it as such. I think that the MSM is complicit in seeking to undermine Corbyn in an attempt to discredit him and maintain the status quo. If they were unbiased and principled in their reporting, they would be equally as outraged by the Tory party. 

 

 

I am really surprised at your stance on this, there is a problem, the members of the Labour Party are saying this, it is fact, it doesn't have to go to arbitration, it's a done deal, why do you have a problem with it. Nobody is making it up, only Jeremy Corbyn can solve this problem, but he and McDonnell are in total denial about it all, it has been said that Corbyn doesn't know what anti-semetism is, therefore he will never solve the problem.

As for undermining Corbyn the MSM doesn't have to do that, he is very capable of undermining himself, a total shambles of a Tory Party, yet still ahead of Labour, come on RR, wake up and smell the coffee.

[RuamRudy]

6 minutes ago, vogie said:

I am really surprised at your stance on this, there is a problem, the members of the Labour Party are saying this, it is fact, it doesn't have to go to arbitration, it's a done deal, why do you have a problem with it. Nobody is making it up, only Jeremy Corbyn can solve this problem, but he and McDonnell are in total denial about it all, it has been said that Corbyn doesn't know what anti-semetism is, therefore he will never solve the problem.

As for undermining Corbyn the MSM doesn't have to do that, he is very capable of undermining himself, a total shambles of a Tory Party, yet still ahead of Labour, come on RR, wake up and smell the coffee.

I have no dog in this fight, and I have no particular fondness for Corbyn or the Labour party, but the relentless piling on that he has faced as the Tories have been self-destructing smells incredibly fishy to me.

 

So when I read statements from the like of The Jewish Voice for Labour, who see things quite differently to you, I have to wonder who is in the right here:

 

"With the transmission on Wednesday evening of the Panorama programme Is Labour Antisemitic? the BBC has reached a new low point in its retreat from its once praised tradition of impartiality.

...

This programme has presented a grossly simplified and utterly distorted picture of Labour’s travails with allegations of antisemitism. It is shameful that the BBC has joined in an orchestrated campaign whose principal aim is quite clearly to prevent Jeremy Corbyn becoming Prime Minister of a Labour government committed to socialism. "

[jayboy]

5 hours ago, rocketman777 said:

anti-Semitism,   which has been redefined by to suit the propaganda of the Zionist, is just a way of trying to undermine the Labor Party and Corbyn in particular.

 

Of the conservative party members approx 80% are signed up with Conservative Friends of Israel  (CFI)   group

 

Where as the equivalent  ' Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) ' group has a very low number( approx 20) of Labor members

 

This does not suit the Zionist agenda and limits the Israeli governments influence on Labor policy..

 

The documentary by Aljazeera  'The Lobby' exposed  the deliberate policy directed from the Israeli embassy and defacto the Israeli government to undermine the Labor party with antisemitism smear tactics

 

https://www.aljazeera.com/investigations/thelobby/

 

 

I  spotted 8 lies in this post.Can anyone improve on that?

[jayboy]

2 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

I have no dog in this fight, and I have no particular fondness for Corbyn or the Labour party, but the relentless piling on that he has faced as the Tories have been self-destructing smells incredibly fishy to me.

 

So when I read statements from the like of The Jewish Voice for Labour, who see things quite differently to you, I have to wonder who is in the right here:

 

"With the transmission on Wednesday evening of the Panorama programme Is Labour Antisemitic? the BBC has reached a new low point in its retreat from its once praised tradition of impartiality.

...

This programme has presented a grossly simplified and utterly distorted picture of Labour’s travails with allegations of antisemitism. It is shameful that the BBC has joined in an orchestrated campaign whose principal aim is quite clearly to prevent Jeremy Corbyn becoming Prime Minister of a Labour government committed to socialism. "

Do you know anything at all about the Jewish Voice for Labour? Perhaps you do and don't care.Anyway your opinion is not in my view of any value.

 

For those who are interested in the JVL's reputation, please google.

[Morch]

1 hour ago, RuamRudy said:

Claims of anti-semitism have certainly become more prominent since Corbyn took over - whether there is actually a problem and, if so, whether it is a relatively modern phenomenon, I have no idea. Anti-semitism was, to my understanding, rife across many sectors of the UK in those less enlightened days when talking about 'coons' and 'pakis' was, likewise, not frowned upon, so I am not so sure that he has been a precursor for any shift backwards in terms of attitude.

 

Nowadays, however, criticism of Israel is a very fraught business, with cries of anti-semitism being leveled at anyone dares to suggest that the Palestinians have gotten a raw deal.  

 

Hamas - they are a different kettle of fish, of course. But there is a long history of covert contacts between politicians and terrorist organisations. Does Corbyn think, possibly naively, that he can appeal to the moderates, and in the full glare of the public eye, without drawing criticism? I don't know. What I do know, however, is that, for all the noise the MSM has been making about Labour's alleged anti-semitism, they have been incredibly silent about the Tory party's alleged islamophobia. 

 

new poll finds widespread Islamophobia among Conservative Party members

 

Quote

Nowadays, however, criticism of Israel is a very fraught business, with cries of anti-semitism being leveled at anyone dares to suggest that the Palestinians have gotten a raw deal.  

 

Hyperbolic nonsense.

 

 

Quote

....the Tory party's alleged islamophobia

 

Look over there!

 

Quote

Hamas - they are a different kettle of fish, of course. But there is a long history of covert contacts between politicians and terrorist organisations. Does Corbyn think, possibly naively, that he can appeal to the moderates, and in the full glare of the public eye, without drawing criticism? I don't know.

 

Not knowing doesn't stop you from insinuating, though.

[vogie]

12 minutes ago, jayboy said:

 

 

14 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

I have no dog in this fight, and I have no particular fondness for Corbyn or the Labour party, but the relentless piling on that he has faced as the Tories have been self-destructing smells incredibly fishy to me.

 

So when I read statements from the like of The Jewish Voice for Labour, who see things quite differently to you, I have to wonder who is in the right here:

 

"With the transmission on Wednesday evening of the Panorama programme Is Labour Antisemitic? the BBC has reached a new low point in its retreat from its once praised tradition of impartiality.

...

This programme has presented a grossly simplified and utterly distorted picture of Labour’s travails with allegations of antisemitism. It is shameful that the BBC has joined in an orchestrated campaign whose principal aim is quite clearly to prevent Jeremy Corbyn becoming Prime Minister of a Labour government committed to socialism. "

You don't have to believe Panorama if you don't want to, but I'm very surprised that you can't take the words of ex Labour MPs that have been hounded out of the party by McDonnal/Corbyn and their henchmen and indeed existing members who have quite honestly admitted that the Labour Party is at breaking point through this issue.

But please don't take this the wrong way but I know how you totally abhor the Tories and perhaps this clouds your vision sometimes, the evidence is their for all to see. 

Probably my last word on this subject tonight as I'm losing the will to live, bye bye everyone, bye bye.

[Chomper Higgot]

I doubt very much that accusations of anti semitism within the Labour Party play much, if any significance in the general public’s voting intentions.

 

 

 

 

[chickenslegs]

43 minutes ago, vogie said:

 

 bye bye everyone, bye bye. 

Happy childhood memories ...

 

[Chomper Higgot]

58 minutes ago, jayboy said:

I  spotted 8 lies in this post.Can anyone improve on that?

I counted 7.

[vogie]

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I doubt very much that accusations of anti semitism within the Labour Party play much, if any significance in the general public’s voting intentions.

 

 

 

 

I very much doubt that, especially if you're a Jew, either way it doesn't justify it.

[Nigel Garvie]

2 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

I have no dog in this fight, and I have no particular fondness for Corbyn or the Labour party, but the relentless piling on that he has faced as the Tories have been self-destructing smells incredibly fishy to me.

 

So when I read statements from the like of The Jewish Voice for Labour, who see things quite differently to you, I have to wonder who is in the right here:

 

"With the transmission on Wednesday evening of the Panorama programme Is Labour Antisemitic? the BBC has reached a new low point in its retreat from its once praised tradition of impartiality.

...

This programme has presented a grossly simplified and utterly distorted picture of Labour’s travails with allegations of antisemitism. It is shameful that the BBC has joined in an orchestrated campaign whose principal aim is quite clearly to prevent Jeremy Corbyn becoming Prime Minister of a Labour government committed to socialism. "

I didn't see the program, I don't have access, but it may well have been overstated. That Labour have a problem here, which may predate Corbyn, but has certainly only come to light since he took over, appears to be sadly beyond doubt. I think it lies with many ignorant Labour people identifying Jews in this county with the actions of Israel. Israel is without doubt a sick apartheid state steeling Palestinian land, and the war criminal Netanyahu should be locked up in the Hague with Kisssinger, Bush, and Blair. However the fact that most of the inhabitants share the same infantile belief in their particular version of the sky fairy myth, is irrelevant to me, as are their claims to being some kind of different race (DNA evidence shows that they are as mixed up as all of us).

 

What is crucial though is that we all fight against the vile disease of racism in this country, and the Tories certainly do have a big problem with Islamophobia. The fact (As commented on above) that the so called races don't really exist in the pure form of many people's fantasies, because they are so hopelessly intertwined, hasn't stopped it being the basis of unacceptable behaviour. An example currently in the news being the unspeakably vile little thug/creep Tommy Islam.

[sanemax]

18 hours ago, Laughing Gravy said:

You criticice Israel for crimes to humanity then you get thrown the anti-semantic card. Or even racists which needs to be reminded that Jews, Muslims or Christians are not a race. If you question anything about Israel you are given the label of anti semitism, which is a load of rollocks.

You can critisise Israel for whatever you like .

Although there are many crimes against humanity occurring on a regular basis that do not involve Israel .

Theres the Rohinga in Myanmar , where 600 000 people got chased out the country , killed and attacked .

Theres there Uigar in China , reports of millions being incarcerated .

Tibetans having their land taken from them .

Kurds  , Armenians , Marsh Arabs and various other peoples that have a worse treatment than the Palestinians .

Much worse things happening across the globe , than whats happening in Israel  .

If you single out Israel and ignore all the much worse things happening 

People will question why you focus on Israel .

Palestinians want the destruction of the Israeli state and replaced by an Islamic state .

If you also want to see Jewish Israel replaced by an Islamic state .

People may question why you would like to see the demise of the Worlds only Jewish state .