Politics

Corbyn ally suspended after rant about ‘Israeli agents’ in fresh anti-Semitism storm


LABOUR executive member Pete Willsman has been suspended from the party after he was caught on camera blaming the party’s anti-Semitism crisis on the Israeli embassy.

In a leaked recording obtained by LBC Radio, Mr Willsman said the storm in the party was “all lies” and claimed party staffers were “linked” to the Israeli embassy.

 Pete Willsman, a Corbyn ally who was elected to the NEC last year

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Pete Willsman, a Corbyn ally who was elected to the NEC last yearCredit: PA:Press Association

He also said an article by 68 rabbis which attacked the party’s handling of the scandal was “obviously” organised by the embassy.

Mr Willsman, who was elected to the NEC last year, said: “It’s almost certain who is behind all this anti-semitism against Jeremy… Almost certainly it was the Israeli embassy. Because they caught somebody in the Labour party – it turns out they were an agent in the embassy.

“The thing is that the people that are in the Labour party doing it are people who are linked… one of them works indirectly for the Israeli embassy.”

“I wouldn’t want to be bothered to find out anyway but my guess would be they are the ones whipping it up all the time.”

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Peter Willsman has been suspended from the Labour Party, pending investigation.”

He won’t be able to attend NEC meetings or perform his job while suspended.

MPs and Jewish groups have immediately come out to slam the rant and demand he be kicked off the party’s National Executive Committee.

Earlier this week the Equality and Human Rights Commission said it had launched an investigation into whether the Labour party unlawfully discriminated against Jews.

Last year he was caught in a similar storm.

In an incendiary recording he declared the anti-Semitism crisis in the party was “false” and invested by “Jewish Trump fantatics”.

MPs called for NEC member Peter Willsman to be suspended after his furious rant demanded “evidence” from 68 rabbis who have warned hatred towards Jews has become “severe and widespread” within the party.

But he was allowed to run and was then elected to the NEC executive board.

The Board of Deputies called for him to be expelled from the Labour Party follow his outburst.

President Marie van der Zyl said: “Peter Willsman – a man who should have been suspended for anti-Jewish statements last year – has not only denied antisemitism in the Labour Party but has resorted to a well-known antisemitic trope to make his point.

“We call on the Leader, Jeremy Corbyn and General Secretary, Jennie Formby, who were present at Mr Willsman’s first outburst and who have repeatedly indulged his bigotry, to ensure he is expelled with the speed and efficiency we have seen in other recent disciplinary cases.”

 Controversial activist Pete Willsman was caught in a similar storm last year

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Controversial activist Pete Willsman was caught in a similar storm last yearCredit: Rex Features

Labour Friends of Israel’s Director Jennifer Gerber said earlier: “It’s utterly despicable for a member of Labour’s governing body to blame the Jewish state for antisemitism in the Labour party.

“Sadly, such comments are no longer a surprise and provide yet another reason why the EHRC has taken the unprecedented step of launching an investigation into Labour, a party now considered by many as institutionally antisemitic.”

Corbyn ally Pete Willsman who blamed anti-Semitism crisis on ‘Trump fanatics’ is cheered by leftie activists


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