Jenrick calls for action over anti-Semitism Facebook post
Robert Jenrick has demanded that Jeremy Corbyn take firm action against the Newark Labour Party after a Facebook account shared a post claiming there was "malicious intent behind the latest flimsy accusations of anti-Semitism".
A Facebook page titled Newark Labour shared the Jewish Socialists’ Group statement underneath a comment of: "The Jewish Labour Movement do not speak for all Jewish Labour Party members and the Board of Deputies do not speak for all Jewish people."
The Jewish Socialists' Group statement is headlined 'Oppose antisemitism and malicious accusations by supporters of the Tory Party.'
In his open letter to Mr Corbyn, Mr Jenrick said: "The article shared by the Newark Labour Party claims there is 'malicious intent behind the latest flimsy accusations of anti-Semitism against Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party', in order to 'divert the electorate.'
"This message offensively invalidates and dismisses the legitimate concerns of British Jews.
"I am writing to request that you take firm action against the Newark Labour Party.
"The suggestion that the concerns of British Jews represent a targeted political attack delegitimises the issues the British Jewish Community has with your leadership of HM Opposition, and appeals to ancient anti-Semitic tropes regarding Jewish control of the media and society.
"If you are sincere about your pledge to tackle the virus that is anti-Semitism, and if, as you say, you will never be anything other than a militant opponent of anti-Semitism, then you will act."
The article says in part the "Jewish Socialists' Group expresses its serious concern at the rise of anti-Semitism."
It said: "This political context, alongside declining support for the Tories, reveals the malicious intent behind the latest flimsy accusations of antisemitism against Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party. These accusations have come from the unrepresentative Board of Deputies and the unelected, self-proclaimed 'Jewish Leadership Council', two bodies dominated by supporters of the Tory Party.
"Between now and the local elections the Tories would love to divert the electorate on to accusations of antisemitism against the Labour Party rather than have us discussing austerity, cuts to local authority budgets, the health service, and social care.
"Many Jews within and beyond the Labour Party are suffering from these policies along with the rest of the population, and oppose them vehemently."
Mr Corbyn said this week pockets of antisemitism had surfaced in the party and he is determined to redouble efforts to eliminate it from the party and wider society.
Labour said the main viewpoint expressed in the statement is not one shared by Mr Corbyn.
A response issued through Nottinghamshire Labour said: "The Labour Party takes all complaints of antisemitism extremely seriously, and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures."
The party said Mr Corbyn does not oversee the complaints procedures. Complaints should be made to the party's Governance and Legal Unit and appropriate disciplinary action is taken in line with its rules and procedures if found necessary.