New left-wing group claims Chris Williamson and Jackie Walker among supporters
The Labour Left Alliance, which dismisses antisemitism claims as 'unfounded smears', is to launch with the support of a group whose honorary president is John McDonnell
A new movement that describes antisemitism in Labour as “unfounded smears” is to launch with the apparent backing of a left-wing group whose honorary president is shadow chancellor John McDonnell.
The Labour Left Alliance (LLA) says it was “initiated” by the Labour Representative Committee and Labour Against the WitchHunt, with support from suspended MP Chris Williamson.
LLA claims over 900 supporters have signed up since it appealed for members on Sunday, including Jackie Walker, the journalist Asa Winstanley, and Bromley Momentum.
A leaflet published on LLA’s website accuses the grassroots group Momentum of supporting “the witch-hunt against Jeremy Corbyn”.
It criticises its Jewish founder Jon Lansman for comments made in June about Jewish Voice for Labour, a group set up in 2017 as an alternative to the Jewish Labour Movement.
“Lansman’s attack on Jewish Voice for Labour as ‘not being part of the Jewish community’ and his demand that Chris Williamson MP should be expelled from the Labour Party are indefensible,” the leaflet reads.
“Of the numerous unfounded smears thrown at Corbyn – being too scruffy, not bowing deep enough, being a Czech spy etc – those around antisemitism have been one of the most consistent avenues of attack,” it stated.
Chris Williamson and Labour Representative Committee have been contacted.
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