A few days ago, I posted how former Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn was to join an antisemitism rally.
I can now report to you that it went about as well as you’d expect.
Jeremy Corbyn has delivered a speech at a rally marking the 85th anniversary of Cable Street aided by an activist suspended by Labour last year for writing a letter criticising his MP’s efforts to try to improve relations with the Jewish community.
Labour members from Liverpool contacted Jewish News to express dismay that suspended activist Hazuan Hashim was seen standing alongside Corbyn holding a microphone for him during his speech on Sunday.
Hashim was one of four members of Liverpool Wavetree CLP suspended after circulating a letter criticising their local MP Paula Barker for an article she wrote in a local Jewish newspaper expressing a wish to patch up relations with the community after the breakdown of relations under Corbyn.
In her article for the Jewish Telegraph MP Barker also said it was “deeply regrettable” that her predecessor Luciana Berger felt she could no longer stay in the party.
But after the article was published four members of the Wavertree CLP executive sent a statement to local members describing Barker’s article as taking an “inaccurate and factionally motivated position on antisemitism which was used in order to personally attack and seriously undermine Labour’s socialist programme during the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn.”
Labour chiefs reacted swiftly and suspended Hashim, and the three others who had signed the inflammatory statement.
The suspended officials became known as the “Wavertree 4” as their actions were defended by groups such as Labour Against The Witch-hunt, who are now banned by Labour for downplaying or denying antisemitism.
Despite this suspension Hashim, who was Wavertree CLP’s BAME Officer, was given a leading role at Sunday’s Cable Street event, at which he was photographed holding the microphone stand for Corbyn, while wearing a hi vis stewards jacket.
One Liverpool Labour activist, who has campaigned against antisemitism in the city told Jewish News:”It makes my blood boil seeing Jeremy Corbyn give a speech at an event, that is meant to show solidarity with British Jews, alongside someone who has actively tried to harm relations with the local Jewish community in Liverpool.
“Hazuan Hashim should be nowhere near this event, and neither should Corbyn.”
You’d think Corbyn would be more careful, by now, as to who he is photographed next to at rallies.
Meanwhile, it gets even worse:
The Jewish Labour Movement’s National secretary Adam Langleben said “It’s outrageous that the largest Jewish organisation on the left, by a considerable mile, and one of the Labour Party’s oldest affiliates was not invited to participate in the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street. Many of our members had family who were present and fought back against the fascists in the East End of London.
“At the 80th anniversary five years ago one hundred JLM members joined the march and our Vice Chair Sarah Sackman was invited to speak from the stage.
“No single ideological tradition, community or faith group descendent has the authority to claim sole ownership over remembering such an important piece of our collective history. Some parts of the left are far more comfortable remembering dead Jews of the past rather than standing alongside living Jews today.”
So true.
Speaking of which, why wasn’t Roger Waters invited to perform a somber song? That would have been the icing on the cake.
