To corbyn's labour, anti-semitism is not a moral outrage - it is an inconvenience | thearticle

It is hard to know quite what to say after watching Panorama’s investigation into anti-Semitism in the Labour Party (something of a problem for a columnist, I appreciate). The truth is I am

utterly exhausted by constantly having to discuss this issue. And there was not all that much new in what was a well put together programme. We already knew that under the leadership of

Jeremy Corbyn the oldest hatred has infested this once great party. We already knew that, consequently, lots of Jews are leaving a party with which they have been affiliated for generations.

We already knew that many other Jews genuinely fear a Corbyn premiership.  Furthermore, anyone who has taken even a cursory glance at Labour during the period since 2015 would surely have

come to the conclusion that those at the top have no interest in dealing with this issue. That Labour did not send Jeremy Corbyn to face reporter John Ware’s questions, but instead

despatched Shadow Communities Secretary Andrew Gwynne, tells you everything you need to know about the seriousness with which it approaches eradicating anti-Semitism from its ranks. However,

there was undoubtedly something powerful about seeing former Labour party staff, mostly non-Jewish, recounting their harrowing experiences of trying to root out anti-Semitism from the

party. One former head of the disputes unit, which was charged with investigating anti-Semitism, even confided on camera that he had considered taking his own life, such was the pressure

brought onto his team. Another spoke of having a breakdown as a result of what happened in Labour HQ.  Equally powerful were the stories of young Jewish party members, some of whom had even

voted for Corbyn to become leader in 2015. One went as far to say she no longer regarded the Labour party as a “safe space” for Jews. These people, who had presumably gone into politics and

to work for their party due to their opposition to racism, were readily, shamefully, dismissed. They were branded “disaffected former employees” in Labour’s response to the programme, a

response that became more and more contemptible as each allegation was put to them. The genuine upset and despair felt by these former staffers and members was plainly obvious to anyone

watching. Their bravery in speaking out should not be ignored. Panorama also made it clear that the Leader of the Opposition and those around him are dedicated to three things – process,

politics, and power. As TheArticle’s editor, Daniel Johnson, noted in his column this morning, General Secretary Jennie Formby “had allegedly sent an email, copied to Corbyn himself, stating

that ‘the NCC (National Constitution Committee) cannot be allowed to continue’ suspending and expelling members for anti-Semitism”. Former General Secretary Lord (Ian) McNichol’s aghast

expression at being told of the alleged interference made it clear quite what an overreach this was from Corbyn’s allies. Every alleged intervention from Ms Formby and Director of

Communications Strategy Seumas Milne involved those three ‘p’s. The programme showed a total obsession with process and how to control it – who sat on what committee, which acronym wielded

power in which case, instead of a desire to actual deal with the issue properly. They only seemed to care about anti-Semitism at all when it became political issue, a roadblock in the way of

the revolution.  This was summed up perfectly in one of Mr Gwynne’s answers. He said that Labour is “serious about getting shot of this problem”. The language here is telling. Anti-Semitism

is not a moral outrage but a problem to get ‘shot of’, a fly in the ointment, an inconvenience. As damning as it was, nothing will happen as a consequence of last night’s Panorama. The

Corbyn cult spin machine was in full flow even before it had aired, trying to diminish Mr Ware and branding his reporting as a hatchet job. The_ Huffington Post_ revealed instructions said

to have been distributed to ‘outriders’.  Among other things, the document told these supporters to ‘Amplify. Amplify. Amplify’ Channel 4 Dispatches investigation into Islamophobia in the

Conservatives. It is whataboutery of the highest order. The advice also urged digital comrades to “saturate social media with fact based [sic] videos, links & graphics of the times

Jeremy has opposed anti- Semitism for the next four days” and to “saturate social media with fact based (sic) memes and videos of all the ways Jennie has tackled anti-Semitism for the next

four days.” It shows just how determined the Labour leadership is to bully and barrage into silence those who highlight anti-Semitism. For the sake of the courageous whistleblowers and the

Jewish community, that most not be allowed.