Below is all currently active policy, as passed by our members at our yearly AGM.

Labour Party Antisemitism

Israel/Palestine

Antisemitism in Hungary and Poland

People's Vote

Read the Jewish Labour Movement's reaction to the BBC and The Times story on our final submission to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.

The Jewish Labour Movement's General Election Statement

Since the election of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader in 2015, a culture of antisemitism has been allowed to emerge and fester in the Party at all levels. From murals and wreaths, to Livingstone and Walker and Williamson, there are too many shameful examples to list – itself damning evidence of the Party’s moral slide.

Our Honorary President, Dame Louise Ellman MP, along with our former Parliamentary Chair, Luciana Berger MP were hounded out of Labour after years of relentless abuse, particularly in their local parties. Despite being well aware of this bullying, Jeremy Corbyn did nothing to address their concerns. When two accomplished and dedicated Jewish Labour MPs no longer see a place for themselves in the Labour Party, it’s clear that the party has lost its way. 

This crisis of antisemitism in the Labour Party stems from a failure of leadership from Jeremy Corbyn. When the answer has been to take swift, decisive action, the reality has been equivocation and token gestures. Time and time again, the Party has not engaged in good faith to try to implement the actions that we believe are necessary to tackle anti-Jewish racism.

The disciplinary process has buckled under the weight of antisemitism complaints, and instead of implementing an independent process we’ve seen delay, obfuscation and botched decision making. Political interference is endemic in the system, which is used to protect the leaderships’ friends and allies, rather than ensure the Party is a safe space for Jews.

It is little wonder that the Equalities and Human Rights Commission is formally investigating the Labour Party for institutional racism against Jews; unprecedented scrutiny which will continue throughout the course of the general election.

The last four years have been catastrophic for Jews in the Labour Party. Nevertheless, the Jewish Labour Movement has kept true to our Labour values and resolved – for now – to stay and fight racism, rather than disaffiliate and walk away. At our Annual General Meeting in April, our members unanimously adopted a policy deeming Jeremy Corbyn unfit to be Prime Minister as a result of his abject failure on antisemitism.

We will not be campaigning unless in exceptional circumstances and for exceptional candidates, like our Parliamentary Chair Ruth Smeeth, and members of the Parliamentary Labour Party who’ve been unwavering in their support of us. We will not be giving endorsements to candidates in non-Labour held seats.

This does not mean that we no longer support the Labour Party’s policies and its historic values, nor do we wish to see Boris Johnson or Jo Swinson in Downing Street. The Jewish Labour Movement has a long and proud history of activism in Labour Party and the wider Labour movement and 2020 marks our 100th anniversary of affiliation to the Labour Party.

Fighting racism, prejudice and intolerance is at the heart of our Labour values – it is the failure of the leader and his supporters to live these values which has led us to take this stance.

Questions:

Where and how will the Jewish Labour Movement be campaigning in the general election?

The Jewish Labour Movement only will be campaigning for exceptional candidates and in exceptional circumstances. This includes for our Parliamentary Chair Ruth Smeeth. We will not be replicating the scale of our campaigning activity that we undertook in 2017, where JLM organised more than 50 campaign activities across six electoral regions and nations and in marginal seats. No JLM Officers will be standing for election.

Are individual Jewish Labour Movement members allowed to campaign for any Labour candidate?

Our General Election Statement is the Movement’s position and reflects the collective will of our members. What individual members decide to do during the general election is a private matter for each to decide; no doubt this will be a very difficult decision for many.

Will the Jewish Labour Movement campaign against candidates that they do not see to have been sufficient allies in the fight against antisemitism in the Labour Party?

We will seek to highlight candidates’ shortcomings or failings in the fight against antisemitism. Where this is the case, they will not benefit from any Jewish Labour Movement resources.

As a member of the Jewish Labour Movement, am I allowed to campaign for candidates from another political party?

To be a member of the Jewish Labour Movement you must support the aims and values of the Labour Party, and not be a member of any other political party. This is consistent with other socialist societies and trade union affiliates. Some of our members are not members of the Labour Party, having never joined or having resigned from it over the past few years. Individuals who are not able to meet the membership requirements of the Labour Party are unable to remain members of the Jewish Labour Movement. Individuals who publicly campaign for candidates who stand against the Labour Party in elections are not eligible for membership.

Ahead of the Shadow Cabinet meeting on antisemitism in the Labour Party, JLM Chair, Mike Katz, wrote to all Shadow Cabinet members. You can read his letter here.

Our Chair, Mike Katz, wrote to chief whip Nick Brown following the election of Lisa Forbes. You can see the letter here.

Plain text version:

Following Lisa Forbes winning the Peterborough by-election, a JLM spokesperson has issued the following statement:

"Labour has consistently failed to take a zero tolerance approach to anti-Jewish hate. This has encouraged a culture to develop where not only is it acceptable for someone who has endorsed racist material and rejected the internationally accepted IHRA definition of antisemitism to be a member, but they can advance politically and seek public office.

"Labour's newest MP is a perfect example of this.

"Ms Forbes will have to go far, far further than her statements at the weekend to demonstrate to our members and the Jewish community that she isn't racist against Jews.

"The PLP called for the Party to adopt the IHRA definition. Given her previous rejection of IHRA, Ms Forbes should have the whip suspended immediately.

"This show how urgent and necessary the EHRC's investigation into Labour's institutional racism is. The Party is simply incapable of rooting out hate by itself"

Following the revelations published in the Jewish Chronicle, about a newly elected councillor in High Peaks who shared Holocaust revisionist material and Ruth George's continued support for her, JLM's chair, Mike Katz, wrote to Ruth George- you can read the letter here.

A statement from JLM Chair, Mike Katz, on Richard Burgon's completely unacceptable comments unearthed today.

"The vast majority of British Jews identify as Zionists- irrespective of their views on Israel's current government and policies. Insulting a core part of their identity, and then dissembling about it, is shameful behaviour from a senior frontbencher for our Party, let alone someone who aspires to administer our justice system.

You can't play at being Lord Chancellor-in-waiting whilst making dog-whistle attacks on British Jews and their right, through Zionism, for national self-determination.

We have written to Mr Burgon and the Chief Whip, asking for swift clarification and an apology, on behalf of our members."

To read our letter to Richard Burgon click here. 

To read our letter to the Chief Whip, Nick Brown, click here.