Corbyn says it is his ‘heartfelt wish’ for JLM to remain affiliated to party
Message to organisation’s executive, seen by Jewish News, comes just before crunch meetings to decide if the Jewish Labour Movement should sever ties to Labour after 99 years
Jeremy Corbyn has told the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) it is his “heartfelt wish” for the organisation to remain affiliated to the party and called for a meeting with the group – an offer that has been rebuffed until further action is taken on antisemitism.
The message addressed to the organisation’s executive, now seen by Jewish News, came a week before crunch meetings in London and Manchester where some JLM members are expected to push for ties to be severed after 99 years.
In his letter, which he signs off with the words ‘solidarity”, Corbyn wrote: “I know that your decision to call an extraordinary meeting to discuss the future of your affiliation to the Labour Party will not have been taken lightly. I deeply regret that this is under consideration.
“The Jewish Labour Movement is a highly valued and important part of our Labour family.
“It is my heartfelt wish that your members will choose to retain the historic relationship that first Poale Zion and latterly the Jewish Labour Movement have had with the Labour Party for almost a century.”
It comes 35 years after Corbyn backer a motion to sever ties with Paole Zion, which rebranded itself as JLM in 2004.
The new group’s mission statement focused on British Jewry. When revelations of the motion emerged in 2015, JLM said it found it hard to believe any Labour politician would back what amounts to a “purge” of the party’s only Jewish affiliate.
Saying he recognised the “hurt and pain” caused to Jews by “antisemitic ideas expressed by some Labour members” and was “wholly committed” to rooting it out, he added: “I know that this commitment must be demonstrated in actions, not just words.
“Progress has been made, but we must go much further to create the zero-tolerance culture that you rightly demand of us.
“I want to reassure you that Jennie Formby, the Shadow Cabinet and I are determined to achieving these aims, and to proving to the Jewish community that we stand with them against bigotry and prejudice.
“To do this, we must work more closely with you as the Party’s only Jewish affiliate organisation and I would welcome an opportunity to meet you to discuss how we may do this.”
A JLM spokesman told Jewish News: “At every stage of crisis in the Leadership’s failure to tackle the culture of antisemitism that has engulfed the Party these past years, the same pattern of warm words and no meaningful action is repeated.
“Having made bold claims about engaging with JLM at the PLP [Parliamentary Labour Party], despite having only sent us an email two minutes before the Leader took to his feet, it now appears that his office were more interested in passing the content of his letter to the press than they were in waiting for our reply.
“The path through this was set a year ago in the wake of the Enough is Enough protests.
“Until they set out how they will meet the six tests set by the Jewish community, and the 19 by JLM, there will be no meetings.”
The Labour leader added he was “saddened” by the resignation of Berger. “The abuse she has received is shocking and appalling, and she has my full solidarity.”
Corbyn added: “The Labour Party and the Jewish community have deep and historic common roots, with the Jewish Labour Movement approaching its centenary of affiliation next year.
“It is my firm belief that the future holds great potential for us to achieve the change needed to create the better, fairer world which we all believe in and so keenly want to realise. I hope we will continue to work towards it together.”
Corbyn’s letter came within hours of Tom Watson’s appeal to MPs to copy him into all complain of antisemitism so is office could keep track of them.
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.
