John Cryer MP speaks out on Labour anti-semitism UPDATED

Currently, the BBC is running a story about John Cryer and Labour’s anti-semitism:

‘A senior Labour MP has said he is shocked at some of the anti-Semitic tweets by party members that come before its disciplinary panel.

John Cryer said some of what is written “makes your hair stand up”, adding: “This stuff is redolent of the 1930s.”

He was speaking at a fringe debate at the Labour conference in Brighton…

…Mr Cryer, Labour MP for Leyton and Wanstead, described a “seeping poison” and warned that future generations might not realise that when it came to Nazism, “we were right and they were wrong”.

As chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, he sits on the disputes panel of the National Executive Committee, which rules on what members have “said, written or tweeted”, he told the audience.

“I have seen some of the tweets from paid up Labour Party members and I am not kidding you, it makes your hair stand up,” he said.

Some Labour members dismiss reports of anti-Semitism as a myth, he said.

“But you don’t have to look very far before you see it’s not a myth…and there’s no place in the Labour Party for stuff like that.”‘

Fair play to Mr. Cryer for tackling a controversial issue.

But things must have come to a pretty pass in the Labour Party if an M.P. previously known for not saying boo to a goose now feels impelled to so intervene.

UPDATE

The (Labour) Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council has written to the General Secretary of the Labour Party as follows:

‘Dear Iain,

I hope that you and the entire Labour team here in Brighton and Hove are enjoying your stay and that the facilities offered by the Brighton Centre are everything that you would expect from us. As a city we very much appreciate the business that Conference brings to our hotels, restaurants and shops.

I am however very concerned at the anti-semitism being aired publicly in fringe meetings and on the floor of Conference. We have a significant Jewish community in Brighton and Hove, and I met with them only last week to discuss the anti-semitism already on our streets, causing them fear and alarm. We have the prominent activist and suspended Labour Party member Tony Greenstein here, who indeed was present at the fringe meeting where it was suggested that Holocaust denial should be allowed. His expulsion, in my view, is long overdue.

As the Labour leader of Brighton and Hove City Council I will undoubtedly face questions as to why we allow any event where anti-semitic views are freely expressed to happen in the city, particularly on council premises. As a Labour Party member I expect the enquiry announced today to take firm action; as Leader I will need reassurances that there will be no repeat of the behaviour and actions we have seen this week before any further bookings from the Party are taken.

I must apply the same standards to Labour as I would to any other Party Conference or political event; whilst none of us can control what is said at meetings we do not run, I have to make the strongest possible representation on behalf of the residents of the city who are Jewish. We are a City of Sanctuary and I have to speak up against any form of racism as and when it is given a platform in the city.

Best wishes,

Warren.

Councillor Warren Morgan
Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council’

Many who remember the days when Labour stood firmly against racism and had some integrity will hope Cllr. Morgan’s letter is a spoof.

Sadly it is not.