Forum Topic

Labour antisemitism

This just trundles on does it not?There are calls (from within the Labour party) for the newly elected MP for Peterborough to be suspended for antisemitism. Meanwhile, a Labour MP has been accused of antisemitism by two of her former employees in formal complaints to the party. I wonder who it might be..

Nick Goodliffe ● 2432d30 Comments

But 'antisemitism' can only be used against those 'Semites'  who follow the Jewish Religion.  Try using it against other semites and see if anyone takes any notice. For example Palestinians are also 'Semites', so Israel (and some Conservative MP's) could often be accused of Anti-Semitism, but the term has been claimed by those who follow Judaism, and their supporters.

Tim Hicks ● 2331d

Labour have beefed up the process and at least they have a process. Sadly in the past there has been anti semitism from some people who have not been able to separate opposition to the actions of the Israeli government from Jewish people. Labour has signed up to a policy and issued educational material. Sadly this has been far too slow. Some of the people who have had complaints about them were not even labour members. The problem for many MPs is the abuse they receive. And of course the threats they suffer. But we are now in a mess with politics and when you read headlines in newspapers calling judges traitors you realise that British decency has been put on hold. I fear that things could get a lot worse. We have seen a rise in hate crime and some of the language used by politicians and missleading campaigns add to this. This is why Boris and others need to choose their words carefully. Careless words allow the thugs to justify their actions.

Peter Chadburn ● 2337d

Sadly, in the days of the 'keyboard warrior' all MPs receive abuse be it racist, sectarian, homophobic, sexist or otherwise.It shouldn't be the case but it goes with the job I am afraid.

N V Brooks ● 2337d

Correction: Dr Huq

Paul Cronshaw ● 2337d

@ Peter Evans .... not "me" but let US all decide.More transparency would help dispel lingering concerns that the party is just going through the motions by having a "panel" clear its people of antisemitism. It has been well documented how the Labour party has been resisting the involvement of outside bodies to investigate the depth of institutional antisemitism in its ranks. Your concerns about the abuse received by Dr Ruq will not detract from the seriousness of antisemitism in the Labour party.

Paul Cronshaw ● 2337d

"The party she represents is institutionally anti-Semitic"Evidence please? See this for a deeper analysis:https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/the-labour-party-institutional-antisemitism-and-irresponsible-politics/I guess if you wish to sustain your belief, you have to rail against the decision with your Margaret Hodge-style objections - 'what panel?', 'who was on it?' 'how can we trust them?' 'let me see the evidence?' all of which really mean: 'let *me* decide'. I'd be more concerned about the frequent racist abuse, hate mail and even death threats that Ms Huq receives because of the job she does.

Peter Evans ● 2337d

@Peter re Boris and Islamophobia ... not as much a concern as how he was cleared to run the country!

Paul Cronshaw ● 2337d

Islamophobia whatever nonsense it is, was not Boris's offence. He wrote defending the right  of Muslim women to be dressed like letter boxes.

Graham Weeks ● 2338d

Paul. At least she has been cleared by an investigating committee. Boris hasnt been cleared of Islamophobia!!

Peter Chadburn ● 2338d

The party she represents is institutionally antisemitic. She was accused of antisemitism by colleagues, apparently disaffected. She has recently been cleared of the charges by a 'panel'. There is no explanation of the term 'panel', who was involved and their backgrounds / suitability to hear the case. Rupa Huq does seem competent but much more has to be done to rid the Labour party and many of its members of this heinous racism.

Paul Cronshaw ● 2338d

This is getting ridiculous. Dr. Huq has been making her mark, both in Parliament and on TV of late, injecting some common sense into the insanity of Brexit Britain. Somebody doesn’t like that so she has been targeted in a smear campaign. How very predictable!

Judith Jaafar ● 2426d

It looks like this is more an employment dispute than anything else.I'm struggling to understand why people would disrupt a meeting about adopting a definition of anti-Semitism to protest as reported on this site. The people waving the flags in the council chamber didn't look or sound particularly Palestinian and I wonder if actual Palestinians would thank them for their actions.

Andy Jones ● 2426d

It is obvious that there is an issue. However the main issue is with people on the edges of the labour party and non members which was reported as why there are some complaints that can't be dealt with. But also the slowness of the leadership in recognising that an issue exists that needed to be dealt with. There is also a group of people including the press that are running scared of a labour government. so the daily mail and other papers are looking for stories. There is a question of those supporting Palestinian rights which are getting accused of being an anti-semite. But the suporters of the current Israeli government with their support for the settlements want to confuse the opposition. A labour government that recognised the Palestinian nation is the last thing they want. Mike Pompeo said the same yesterday. Labour has had a strong tradition of supporting Jewish people in this country and also friendship with the people of Israel after the war. Also strong links with the kibbutz movement. So there are a lot of areas in which an accusation can be made. By supporting Palestinian rights you get accused of being anti-semitic when in fact you are highlighting an injustice. However abusing an MP because of their religion or links to people within Israel or any other country is wrong. Rightly we need to fight bigotry and racism but when we see Boris being touted as Conservative leader we know that there is one standard for one group and another standard for others. So it is ok to cheat on your wife, have a child to a mistress, have girlfriends take abortions, take cocaine, lie to parliament, lie to the public and be totally useless in your job but god forbid that you are slow to tackle one issue affecting your party.but be the best choice to lead your party

Peter Chadburn ● 2428d

Easy one Paul, they are of Human Race.Sadly, I don't think we will ever dispel centuries of those who consider some to be of 'lesser race' because of their skin shade, religion , gender or orientation.

N V Brooks ● 2428d

I think the Victorian concept of there being separate and distinct races is so ingrained that even people who aren't out and out racist don't realise there aren't!You can utterly undermine the concept of there being separate races by simply asking yourself which "race" is somebody who was produced by an egg and a sperm from people of two different, so called, races.It's not a question you can answer!

Paul James ● 2429d

Perhaps Judeophobia is more appropriate for swathes of the Labour Party.

N V Brooks ● 2429d

This is all getting a bit deep and esoteric for moi, I'll watch this one from the sidelines!  :-)

Rosco White ● 2429d

It doesn't contradict itself.There are no separate races, just some people that subscribe to the concept that there are, and those people that do this might also perceive Jewish people as a race, hence racism.Applies to Muslims as well, and Christians, or any other group of people that a racists wants to think of as a race.You can be racist toward a religion if you think that religion represent what you would (racistly) describe as a race of people.

Paul James ● 2429d

No it is not, although the Anne Frank website, contradicts itself in the space of a single sentence."Jews are not a race" , and categorising people according to race is wrong and dangerous. Even so, some people still believe in the concept. If it is the basis for their hatred of Jews, it is undoubtedly racist.Personally I would prefer it if we referred to it as anything but anti-Semitic as the term itself was first coined by a racist bigot (Wilhelm Marr) in late 19th century Germany as a 'badge of honour'.

N V Brooks ● 2429d

It's racism.https://www.annefrank.org/en/topics/antisemitism/antisemitism-form-racism/

Paul James ● 2429d

I think Ms Huq is an intelligent, hardworking MP. The Mail article does seem a bit malicious - I know..... hardly worth saying!One thing that struck me as amusing was 'the shocking claim' that she intended to question a candidate on their politics, specifically their Masters??? For a job in politics???Local commentators often criticise Rupa Huq even when she is doing something that should be seen as useful such as banning far right speakers from Poland. Not to mention her other regular work as a local MP.Also one should not have to support extreme politics or fundamentalism on either side to avoid being accused of anti Semitism or Islamophobia.

M Powes ● 2430d

If Ms Huq is an anit-semite she seems spectacularly incompetent at it — arguing for Israel's right to exist and being againsts a boycott of the country. This looks very like someone trying to settle a score. 

Gordon Southwell ● 2430d

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbdvn8QHyX8

Philippa Bond ● 2431d

Is a Government allowed to changes its mind, especially over something it said more than 100 years ago?"The Balfour Declaration was a public statement issued by the British government in 1917 during World War I announcing support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine, then an Ottoman region with a small minority Jewish population"

Rosco White ● 2431d

Very little mention seems to be ever made of the Balfour Declaration which seems to be ridden rough-shod over.  Such a shame.

Philippa Bond ● 2431d

I'm not one of those people who is claiming that Labour doesn't have an extremely serious problem with anti-Semitism as I'm sure some of my previous posts on this forum will demonstrate, but these allegations do look very thin.Set against them you have to consider Rupa Huq's longstanding membership of the Labour Friends of Israel, opposition to sanctions and unambiguous support for Israel's right to exist. She recently stepped down from Labour Friends of Israel due it being led by an Independent group MP and taking some policy positions she was uncomfortable with. The timing of these allegations may not be coincidental. She would describe herself as a 'critical friend' of Israel and, in public at least, her actions seem to confirm that she is.

Andy Jones ● 2431d

>>NVB wrote>> Judaism is not a race but a belief system.Yes. But the term 'Semite' relates to a race, or races, of people. According to Britannica:  Definition, Semite. Member of a people speaking any of a group of related languages presumably derived from a common language, Semitic (see Semitic languages). The term came to include Arabs, Akkadians, Canaanites, Hebrews, some Ethiopians, and Aramaean tribes,

Tony Heath ● 2432d

Is there a reason why one can't name Rupa Huq as the subject of anti semitism allegations? https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7118151/Labour-MP-Rupa-Huq-accused-anti-Semitism-former-employee.html

Vlod Barchuk ● 2432d

And if you did you would be wrong.Judaism is not a race but a belief system.As odious as anti-Semitism is is is not based on colour or ethnic origin (the definition of but a rejection of the belief system of others.

N V Brooks ● 2432d

Maybe we should just call it racism?

Philippa Bond ● 2432d