A British journalist is facing censorship for criticising Apartheid Israel

The fact that JVL is publicising this matter is greatly to your credit.

If the facts are as reported by the Canary, this is a shocking attempt by the Labour Party to silence (censor?) a journalist. The excuse offered by the party for withdrawing Mr Winstanley’s press accreditation – that his membership of the Labour Party has been suspended and therefore he cannot attend any Labour Party meetings – would be laughable were it not such a serious matter. Does the Labour Party now require all accredited journalists to be members of the Party in good standing? That seems rather improbable

Thirty years ago, when I was the Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists, we challenged Mrs Thatcher’s ban on the live broadcasting of interviews with members of Sinn Fein. We fought the case though the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords before referring the matter to the European Court of Human Rights. The ban was lifted.

The attempt to silence Sinn Fein was an appalling attack on freedom of speech. I very much hope that the NUJ will be equally outraged by the Labour Party’s attempt to restrict Asa Winstanley’s ability to report the party conference. If political parties in the UK are going to start a process of political vetting, then we can kiss freedom of speech goodbye. I hope all other journalists planning to attend and report on the conference will
recognise what is at stake here and show some basic solidarity.

Mr Winstanley’s offence, it would seem, has been to offend those who cannot tolerate freedom of speech on Israel. The leadership of the Labour Party should give this matter their close attention.

I am a proud solidarity member of JVL and I am blown away by your energy and morality. But having said why do you allow yourselves to be constantly on the back foot ? I was at the AGM and very proud to me there amongst such good people but all I ever heard was how to react to accusations from the Zionists. Sometimes it is necessary to go on the attack. And you should attack LFI not JLM. Why ? Because most supporters of LFI are not Jews. LFI condones the violent racism that occurred in 1948 and is on record as opposing a Palestinian Right of Return.
So long as we remain on the defensive these outrageous injustices will continue. The solution isn’t so much to defend Asa Winstanley as to attack the racism of Margaret Hodge, Tom.Watson, Emily Thornberry and Jess Phillips. An attack upon his accusers is the very best way to help Asa Winstanley. And by the way we should also ask why the CST gets so much money while the defence of Mosques is left solely to the Islamic community.
Racism against Jews is totally disgusting but so equally is racism against Palestinians. Why do we only hear about anti semitism ?

I am appalled. For the Labour Party to revoke this Journalist Press Pass is not acceptable. I am an admirer of Mr Winstanley’s work. The Electric Intifada regularly reports on the plight of the Palestinians
Also refutes the smears of Antisemitism against Jeremy Corbyn and highlights the inconsistencies and reason for the defamation. To deny his Freedom of Speech would be a stain on the Labour Party principles and values.
I am not a Party Member, but please appeal to Jennie Formby and Ian Lavery and reverse this unfair decision.

The Labour Party is steadily catching up with Orwell’s 1984.
Now, we begin to see the emergence of a Thought Police.
This entire idiotic and crazy lunacy all needs to stop.
Even Joe McCarthy was brought down eventually.
When will the same happen in the Labour Party?
As for attaching any significance to the propaganda of CST?
I have never ever believed one single word they have ever said.
They are just another business, creating fake fear for real money.

Let him report

We must support press freedom. How come I feel the need to say that in a Labour Party context.
Some powerfull people should not be in the LP. Who are they? Come clean.

to Helen Bell:
I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised by anything relating to Labour and AS by now, but the revocation of your membership is extraordinary, as well as outrageous. Would you be willing to copy the letter from the membership dept, in case there are any clues to why someone decided to expel you as soon as you actually became a member? Along with Asa Winstanley’s revoked press card and the withdrawal by Greenbelt of an invitation to Leah Levane to participate, something really unpleasant is going on, even (as we’d hoped) after Jennie Formby’s reforms to the secretariat. Does anyone have a clue as to who is pushing this?