That the Labour left movement Momentum has released a statement taking on antisemitism in the Labour Party and the left is welcome.
Until now Momentum had been silent on the issue, and had made no suggestions for political education or training on the issue.
The statement from the group’s National Coordinating Group goes some way to addressing these shortfalls but is not as comprehensive as the one agreed by the Momentum Steering Committee in 2016 but never released.
The 2016 statement calls for the implementation of the Chakrabarti report and for a fairer disciplinary process that would avoid Labour members being suspended and then left almost indefinitely without a hearing.
Momentum’s latest statement talks about providing education on how capitalism works and moving past conspiratorial thinking. They say they will be seeking partners to help deliver the training, but who those partners will be is not clear.
We think local groups should urgently hold political discussions and develop ideas to send to the Momentum NCG. Any educational process should empower groups and local activists as much as possible.
Both statements are published below.
The full text of the recent statement on antisemitism from Momentum’s National Coordinating Group.
Momentum’s National Coordinating Group (NCG) acknowledges the anger, upset and despair within the British Jewish community at the numerous cases of antisemitism in the Labour Party and the Party’s failure to date to deal with them in a sufficiently decisive, swift and transparent manner.
We also note Jeremy Corbyn’s personal pledge to be a militant opponent of antisemitism and a permanent ally of the Jewish Community — and his apology for the pain caused both to Jewish members of the Labour Party and to the wider Jewish community by what he describes as the “socialism of fools”, as well as newer forms of antisemitism which “have been woven into criticism of Israeli governments”.
Momentum’s NCG believes that accusations of antisemitism should not and cannot be dismissed simply as right wing smears nor as the result of conspiracies. Current examples of antisemitism within the Labour Party are not only a problem of a few, extreme “bad apples” but also of unconscious bias which manifests itself in varied, nuanced and subtle ways and is more widespread in the Labour Party than many of us had understood even a few months ago.
It is possible to accept that antisemitism is a problem in parts of the left and needs to be loudly denounced whilst also accepting that some of Jeremy Corbyn’s political opponents are opportunistically using this issue as a way to undermine his leadership. However, the actions of others do not reduce our responsibility to challenge antisemitism whenever and wherever it occurs.
Discussions over recent days have reinforced the need for a programme of political education across the movement – both unconscious bias training specifically targeted at antisemitism and a broader programme of political education which moves people away from conspiratorial thinking and towards a systematic understanding of how society and capitalism works.
Momentum has therefore resolved to explore partnerships with external organisations to deliver awareness trainings open to all Labour members; to renew our focus on a broad programme of political education; and to support any Labour Party initiatives in relation to antisemitism.
Furthermore, Momentum will review its constitution and complaints procedures in order to ensure that they are fit for purpose as a clear statement of Momentum’s values and practical commitment to stamping out antisemitism and all forms of discrimination. We will also provide further guidance and support for our local groups to help them in implementing these aspects of our constitution and upholding our values.
The 2016 statement on antisemitism from Momentum’s national Steering Committee
Momentum unambiguously condemns antisemitism, as it condemns all forms of racism and discrimination, and welcomes Jeremy Corbyn’s launch of an expert-led inquiry. We recognise that each form of racism has its own history, contemporary manifestations, nuances and particularisms, and that these each need to explored and understood to be overcome.
We hope that the inquiry is the start of a process of investigating how racism and oppression that in society replicate themselves in any way in the Labour Party. For the labour movement to fight these injustices effectively, we need comradely self-criticism, education and awareness-raising of these issues. We pledge that Momentum will play a productive role in this process, and will encourage members to express their experiences of antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of racism as part of the Chakrabarti Inquiry.
Momentum takes the need to the fight all forms of racism discrimination, including on the left and in the labour movement, seriously. We do not believe that questions of racism can be dealt with simply by people saying that they are not racist or prejudiced. A deeply analysis of the specific nuances is needed, which is why Momentum backs the Chakrabarti Inquiry. As with the recent controversies around antisemitism, the matter cannot be dealt with simply by people stating they are not antisemitic or just by drawing a distinction between antisemitism and anti-Zionism. Criticising Zionism is not necessarily antisemitic, of course, but some anti-Zionist politics is. Expressing solidarity for the Palestinians is distinct, and should be without any suggestion of antisemitism.
As a new organisation, we certainly have differences and disagreements, within this broad framework, in our ranks about issues of how Zionism and anti-Zionism are related to antisemitism. We will encourage a discussion throughout the organisation to draw out these differences, educate ourselves and develop our positions further.
In terms of the recent controversy, the left has nothing to learn from the Tory party and Tory press, as evidenced by the slew of bigoted and Islamophobic attacks on Sadiq Khan during the election for London mayor.
We also oppose the use of these issues as a factional weapon within the Labour Party, and to undermine the elected party leadership. We oppose the push to make it easier to expel people; there should be an end to factional expulsions and everyone should have due process.
In any this problem must be addressed politically, through discussion and education. This requirements an atmosphere of free speech and debate, where those raising concerns of antisemitism are taken seriously; where criticisms of Israel are not automatically shouted down as antisemitic; and where the discussion is not manipulated for factional purposes.
Momentum will encourage such a serious discussion in our own organisation as well as in the Labour Party and the wider labour movement and encourage members to participate in the Chakrabarti Inquiry.
