Tensions between the Labour leadership and some of its MPs reached breaking point once again this week, over the party’s failure to deal with anti-Semitism within its own ranks. Key to the dispute has been the treatment of Liverpool Wavertree MP, Luciana Berger, who her colleagues say has been targeted by a hard-left group in her local party because she is Jewish.
The latest feud began on 7 February, when Wavertree’s Constituency Labour Party (CLP) tabled a motion of no confidence in the heavily pregnant Berger for ‘criticising’ Jeremy Corbyn. Soon after, it emerged that one of the members who had tabled the motion was, according to Jewish News, a 9/11 truther who had called her a ‘disruptive Zionist’ in the past.
The motion was subsequently dropped by Wavertree but calls soon followed for the local party to be suspended by Labour HQ for anti-Semitic behaviour. Fortunately for the CLP though, it has friends in high places. When the group tabled the vote, their motion was defended by shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who suggested that the deselection threats were motivated by Berger’s refusal to deny she is leaving Labour. Meanwhile Jennie Formby, Labour’s general secretary, congratulated Wavertree for withdrawing the ‘ill-judged’ motion against Berger, but also said she had ‘seen no evidence of any behaviours that constitute potential bullying or anti-Semitism.’ Similarly, Labour’s Brexit secretary Keir Starmer said on the Today programme yesterday that the group should not be suspended.
All three seem to believe that there is no possibility that Wavertree’s vendetta against Berger could possibly be motivated by the fact that she’s Jewish. But is that really the case?
In a bid to find out, Mr S has looked into some members of the group:
The chairman
First up, Alex Scott-Samuel, the chairman of Wavertree CLP. Shortly after the no confidence motion was cancelled, it emerged that Scott-Samuel has been a regular guest on David Icke’s ‘Richie Allen show.’ Icke has frequently been accused of using anti-Semitism tropes, such as his belief that the Rothschilds, who are Jewish, are in fact a race of shape-shifting reptiles who rule the world.
On the show, Labour Wavertree’s chairman told the audience that ‘The Rothschild family are behind a lot of the neo-liberal influence in the UK and the US. You only have to google them to look at this.’
The Rothschilds appear to be something of a bete noire for Scott-Samuel, who has also tweeted about the family’s influence on UK politics:
Another Labour antisemite.
Liverpool Wavertree CLP member.
Liverpool university lecturer
Well, @UKLabour – what now? pic.twitter.com/AvGtYsntcZ— Nuddering (@NudderingNudnik) April 17, 2016
Roy Bentham:
Readers may remember Roy Bentham as the delightful Labour member who on becoming elected as a trade union liaison for Wavertree in 2017, released this rather ominous statement about his MP:
‘Luciana needs to get on board quite quickly now… She will now have to sit round the table with us the next time she wants to vote for bombing in Syria or to pass a no confidence motion in the leader of the party – she will have to be answerable to us.’
While Roy keeps a close eye on Berger’s behaviour, Mr S notices that he is far less discerning when it comes to the publications he writes for.
Mr S has spotted that Bentham penned an article for Socialist Fight in 2016, about the Hillsborough disaster. In the same issue, the publication’s editorial argued that ‘We need a united left bloc to defend the victims of the witchhunt and drive the Zionist racist outfits like the ‘Friends of Israel’ and supporters of Israel’s racist
‘Labour’ Party, out of Labour.’
Interesting company to keep…
Kevin Bean
Kevin Bean, who is listed as a Wavertree CLP member on numerous online petitions, is a busy man. As well as his constituency activities, Bean is also listed as chairman of the Labour against the Witchhunt Liverpool Group. The national group was founded in October 2017 to protest members being expelled from the Labour Party, but its primary focus is campaigning against what they see as the unfair expulsion of Jackie Walker, who was suspended in 2016 for making alleged anti-Semitic comments on Facebook, and saying that Jews were responsible for the African slave-trade. A noble cause for anyone to defend…
Helen Dickson, Equalities Officer
Helen Dickson, the Equalities Officer of Wavertree CLP is also a fan of Jackie Walker. In 2017 Dickson was listed as a signatory on an open letter defending Walker, as well as disgraced London mayor Ken Livingstone.
The letter also alleged that the ‘Israel Lobby’ was behind allegations of anti-Semitism in Labour:
‘The current bogus ‘antisemitism’ attack by the Israel Lobby is intended to deny us this right; will negate our human rights; and suppress free speech and free political debate.’
David Andrew Gannon, Armed Forces, Veterans & Families Lead
When allegations emerged about Wavertree’s chairmans, David Andrew Gannon, who is Armed Forces, Veterans & Families lead for the group, was quick to offer solidarity to his colleague. On Facebook he declared that he stands by Scott-Samuel:
Mr S has reasons to believe though that he might not be the best judge of character when it comes to anti-Semitism. Only seven months ago, Gannon approvingly shared a link to an online show about ‘smears’ against Jeremy Corbyn:
In it, the two hosts suggest that there is an Israeli PR ‘War-room’ where stories about Jeremy Corbyn and anti-Semitism are passed on to the media. They also suggest the Israeli lobby has a direct link to Conservative Party HQ. Mr S is incredibly disappointed: his Israeli lobby briefings must have been lost in the post.
The website page which hosts the show also features this, rather interesting image, which Mr Gannon no doubt missed when he recommended it:
Philip Maxwell, disability lead
Philip Maxwell is disability lead at Wavertree CLP and a creator of documentaries and Labour promotional videos. Maxwell has hosted numerous events showing his films, which have been attended by the Labour MPs Emily Thornberry and John McDonnell
Maxwell encouraged his Facebook friends to sign this petition in March 2018, which called for parliament to ‘debate whether Israel has ‘improper influence’ over British politics’. He has also shared posts describing allegations of anti-Semitism within the party as smears.
Rank and file
Readers will be glad to know that dubious attitudes to Israel and Labour’s anti-Semitism problem aren’t just limited to the local group’s executive officers. For example, Mr S has spotted that 13 CLP members signed this letter defending the party’s conduct when it comes to anti-Semitism in August. Motions have also been put forward at the party’s meetings defending Jackie Walker, and in the comments section of the group’s Facebook page one apparent member has compiled a rather sinister document detailing all the times Berger’s name has featured in the Jewish Chronicle.
Will any of this be enough for Wavtertree CLP to be suspended by the Labour party? Based on recent events, Mr S has his doubts.
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