Labour MPs overwhelmingly back full IHRA after NEC decision
Parliamentary Labour party votes by 205 to eight in favour of adopting the full International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism.
The Parliamentary Labour party has overwhelmingly backed the full international definition of anti-Semitism, a day after its governing body did the same.
Labour MPs and peers today voted by 205 to eight to adopt the full International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism, and all its examples into the party’s standing orders.
This comes after Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) agreed to incorporate the full IHRA definition of anti-Semitism on Wednesday. However, Jewish community groups hit out after the move was accompanied by a statement that said the party will ensure the changes do “not in any way undermine freedom of expression” on Israel or the rights of Palestinians.
After Labour MPs backed the full definition with all examples on Wednesday, Board of Deputies of British Jews President Marie van der Zyl welcomed the move, saying:: “We would like to thank the Parliamentary Labour Party which has adopted the full International Holocaust Remembrance Holocaust Alliance definition of antisemitism with all of its illustrative examples. Unlike the National Executive Committee of the party, the PLP passed the definition without any unnecessary and damaging caveats or addendums.”
Following the Labour NEC’s backing of the definition, Baroness Chakrabarti, urged Jewish critics to “come back into the room” and engage with the party over its approach to anti-Semitism, insisting the extra clause didn’t dilute the definition.
The shadow attorney general told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “There was no sullying. The words were not a caveat, were not a dilution; the words are true, which is that accepting these examples, in my view, in no way negates reasonable free speech around these difficult issues around Israel and Palestine.”
The NEC statement was “about reassuring people that you can be a critic of Israel without being anti-Semitic, you just need to conduct your debate in a certain way”, she said.
She also dismissed comparisons – made by former chief rabbi Lord Sacks – between Mr Corbyn’s previous comments about Zionism with the “rivers of blood” speech made by Enoch Powell.
Insisting Mr Corbyn had been “misquoted, misrepresented and spun”, she said: “I’m a British Asian who grew up in the 70s and 80s, I remember the real Enoch Powell, before this stuff gets hyperbolised and exaggerated.
“I know what it’s like to be listening to misreports in the media that make you feel scared.”
Lady Chakrabarti said: “I say to Margaret and I say to Rabbi Sacks and I say to everybody who has been hurt by this, this is the time to come back into the room for discussion.
“We have accepted these examples. It took so long because of genuine anxieties – however misplaced – about free speech on one of the most intractable problems in the world.
“Come back into the room. I will open the door. I will put the kettle on. But come back into the room because it’s time for reasonable debate.”
- FULL Jewish News interview with John McDonnell: ‘MPs shouldn’t face deselection’
- Listen to the full interview with John McDonnell here:
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.
