That’s what the London Times calls the explosive Labour Party files on anti-Semitism that, having been leaked, have now been reviewed by the newspaper. The rank instances of anti-Semitism exhibited by Labour members of Parliament, and the party’s weak response thereto, are shocking:
The secret files, seen by this paper, reveal the party is still overwhelmed with complaints about anti-Jewish racism that have been left unresolved for months or years. Most have resulted in lenient punishments or no sanctions, according to the documents, despite Jeremy Corbyn’s election campaign claims of zero tolerance.
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In a leaked audio recording from the party’s disciplinary committee in late October, a Labour official complains that more than 130 cases remain outstanding even though the “vast majority” were reported to the party 18 months ago. One unresolved case had been on Labour’s books for more than three years, according to the recording.
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One Labour member from Nottingham wrote that “Jews represent a viral infection that need to be completely eliminated” and said he wanted the “complete extinction of all Jews”. It took more than 10 months for the party to expel him after his case was first reported in 2018.
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Another member was allowed to stay in the party after allegedly confronting a veteran councillor at a Labour meeting and shouting that he “licked the bum of Jews for money”.
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The secret files show half of 100 anti-semitism cases between last summer and this May involved a warning or no action at all. Some members were told to attend “diversity training” although Labour has not set up such a scheme despite promising to do so.Other members were let off without punishment this year despite posting comments about Holocaust denial and distortion, sharing articles about “a Jewish agenda to obtain the conquest of the gentile world” and saying it was justified to “have a dim view of the Jews”.
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A Labour member from Birmingham was subject to a complaint after posting on Facebook that the Red Sea was the “ideal destination” to get rid of the Jews “who are a cancer on us all” before adding, “no need for gas chambers anyway gas is so expensive and we need it in England”. It took eight months for him to be expelled from the party after he was suspended by Labour last year.Another female member based in East Sussex described Sajid Javid, the chancellor, as a “treacherous choc ice” for making comments that were supportive of Israel. She is said to have resigned from the party before a hearing could take place.
Other Labour members’ posts include claims that: “IRA murderers took their cue from Jews”; Jews were behind the 9/11 attacks; and the family of the former Jewish Labour MP Margaret Hodge were “rancid and “all in it together . . . the family of Israel”.
Jeremy Corbyn has claimed that Labour members responsible for anti-Semitism have been “suspended or expelled” from the party, but the leaked files show Corbyn’s assertion to be false.
Why has Labour been so reluctant to deal with widespread, virulent anti-Semitism among its members of Parliament? In part, I suppose, because Jeremy Corbyn shares their prejudice. His hatred of Israel and his tolerance toward Islamic terrorism suggest that conclusion. Beyond that, anti-Semitism is more common on the left than on the right in the U.K., as it is in the U.S. Many Labourites are, evidently, untroubled by anti-Semitism.
Labour leaders are fretting that the release of these documents in the last days of the election campaign will damage their party’s chances, with the Tories already leading by eight to ten points in most polls. Let’s hope they are right. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson has released a proposal for sensible post-Brexit immigration reform, fast-tracking skilled immigrants while not allowing permanent residency to unskilled immigrants. Such a plan no doubt commands majority support in the U.K., as it would in the U.S. if plainly put on the table. That, too, should bolster the Conservatives’ chances.
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