Chief Rabbi to Labour NEC: ‘Do the right thing for Britain’
Mirvis warns those who don't back full IHRA definition will be 'on the wrong side of the fight against racism' as he urges party to 'make the right decision' in anti-Semitism row.
Justin Cohen is the News Editor at the Jewish News
Labour’s adoption of a much-criticised code of conduct on anti-Semitism would represent “an unprecedented message of contempt” to British Jews, the Chief Rabbi has told the party’s governing body.
Ephraim Mirvis’ warning came as the full national executive committee is expected to rule on the code, which was previously endorsed by a sub-committee of the group. The intervention came as more than 60 rabbis across the religious spectrum also demanded a rethink.
The proposed code joins the government, CPS and more than 100 councils in adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of Antisemitism along with some of its accompanying examples of contemporary anti-Semitism – but other examples have not been fully included.
Instead, Labour have clarified some of those examples and added additional examples from other sources – provoking anger from the Board of Deputies and Jewish Leadership Council that Jews are being denied the right to define hate against them. Jeremy Corbyn has so far remained silent on the escalating row.
In a letter to NEC members that will increase pressure on the leadership ahead of today’s meeting, the Chief Rabbi said: “It is astonishing that the Labour Party presumes that it is more qualified than…the Jewish community to define antisemitism.
READ MORE:
- Only four Labour MPs back party leaders in anti-Semitism definition row
- Nearly 70 leading rabbis sign letter to Labour NEC over ‘insulting’ IHRA stance
- OPINION – Jennie Formby: IHRA doesn’t go far enough – Labour’s new anti-Semitism guidelines are MORE comprehensive
“Adoption of Labour’s new alternative to the internationally accepted IHRA definition will send an unprecedented message of contempt to the Jewish community. Other groups might legitimately ask if they will be best in having the prejudice they are subject to defined for them.”
Deserving the NEC decision as a “watershed moment”, he added: “Those who votes for anything other than the full IHRA definition will be placing themselves on the wrong side of the fight against racism, antisemitism and intolerance. Please make the right decision for Britain.”
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “These are the most detailed and comprehensive guidelines on antisemitism adopted by any political party in this country. They adopt the IHRA definition and contextualise and add to the working examples to produce a practical Code of Conduct that a political party can apply in disciplinary cases.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
