The EHRC Report – critical evaluations / 5
Published
by
Richard Kuper
JVL Introduction
Many interesting analyses of the EHRC Report are being produced and we will be reposting a selection.
Doing so does not imply that we endorse all the points made in these analyses but, in our view, all add important insights.
The fifth reposting is from the Morning Star, describing labour movement reactions to Jeremy Corbyn’s suspension.
It accompanied its report with a statement from David Rosenberg of the Jewish Socialists’ Group, also included below
This article was originally published by Morning Star on Sat 31 Oct 2020. Read the original here.
Corbyn's suspension is an ‘attack on the left’ that undermines Labour's response to anti-semitism
The former Labour leader says he will strongly ‘contest the political intervention to suspend me’ and to ‘continue to support a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of racism’
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I agree with David Rosenberg. I too was one of Jeremy Corbyn’s constituents until 2017 when I moved out to nearby Highgate. I also wanted to be allowed to speak out about antisemitism but have never been allowed a voice. I wrote a submission to EHRC, but the sloppy report does not even identify, as most government reports do, who they received evidence from, and how they evaluated it. It is indeed thin and repetitive. Secondly in 2018 I wrote to the 4 Jewish women MPs who were complaining about antisemitism about their views as Jewish women, and as socialists/Labour members. Basically, was it better to attack the Labour leadership and thereby divide so that the party was not electable, and thus have a Tory government. They were Luciana Berger, Louise Ellman, Margaret Hodge and Ruth Smeeth. Not one of them did me the courtesy of a reply. And so it came to pass: we still have a Tory government. Their commitment to a fair and equal society seemed and seems thin. How ironic to use EHRC for antisemitism and not gender, race or class equality.
It is quite clear that Corbyn is no anti-semite. He IS against Jewish settler-colonial self-determination (?contrary to Example 7 of IHRA definition of anti-semitism which protects “the Jewish people’s” right to self-determination) and this is why these Zionists have set him up as a defender of anti-semitism. Of course the BoD speak for “the Jewish people”, don’t they? We need to get back to basics and argue that there is no entity called “the” Jewish people, and thus the BoD cannot profess to speak for them. Politicians may talk of “the” British people, meaning anyone who lives within Britain. What have Jews got to tie them together? Politics? Morals? Love of the human rights-abusing Israeli Government? A collective determination to dispossess Palestinians and force them into exile? Answers in an email please.
We need an advocate for Jeremy to pin down the contradictory statements being made. Which Laws have been broken? Are we talking of structures, procedures, protocols; eg the Chakrabarti Report, just not being implemented during JC’s time. If so who was responsible. Methinks that the buried Forde Report – the much sought after leaked Report submitted to the EHRC – will elucidate. So why is this document being hidden away?
It seems clear to me that Keir has no inclination to unearth matters that are clearly being obfuscated. He appears to acting as a Counsel for the Prosecution? This tunneled blinkered attitude was evident in Keir’s interview with Andrew Marr on BBC1 TV this morning, he’s hiding behind a stage managed adaptation of the EHRC’s ‘findings’ to suit his prejudiced actions on behalf of the B.o.D’s and those in the PLP who want to further vilify JC.
The internal report was effectively commissioned for the EHRC, so what is interesting is who decided not to submit it
It still managed to hamstring the EHRC and is ths subject of the class action against the party
Only a matter of time before we have our day in court
The greatest service anyone can do for Jewish Communities as is the case for any community is to keep it safe. That means allaying fears where there is no cause. The Labour Party despite its propensity towards imperialism has a membership who overwhelmingly support anti racism. I think of Cable Street comparing the actions of LP men and women to those of the BoD.
Jeremy Corbyn is precisely that strand of membership who have made the LP a welcoming haven for communities. The actions of the LP Right Wing are making the LP an unsafe place. That is as clear as daylight.
I welcome the support of the seven unions and would greatly appreciate their further resistance to the blairite coup.
JVL should read carefully the comments of posters and not allow expressions of antisemitism just because other aspects of a post are acceptable. For example John Hall’s comments above bubble over into contempt for Jews, our religion, our history and the bond that we feel with one another. He writes among other things “We need .. to argue that there is no entity called the Jewish people” “What have Jews got to tie them together … Morals?”
And he’s posting to a Jewish site so where do you start with someone with those views; at least don’t give him a forum.
[JVL responds: we do read comments carefully. We delete ones that are just scoring points, abusive or antisemitic. But we approve many we do not agree with or agree with only in part. You clearly do not like the tone of John Hall’s comment, but he raises a prefectly legitimate question as what all Jewish people have in common and suggests 4 possible answers. It would be better if you expanded your response: “our religion, our history and the bond that we feel with one another” than to ask us to censor his views.]