Actually I would dispute that. I am a member of the Labour Party, remember - so I have some experience of the party structures and culture! And for what it's worth, I'm also half-Jewish by descent (although I don't culturally associate with anything Jewish). I think it's pretty obvious that some anti-semitic stuff has appeared online in left-wing circles, and that is awful and inexcusable. I think it's also clear that the reaction amongst the Labour leadership has not been as strong as it should have been - and Corbyn in particular did not speak out about it in the way that he should have done. I also think there's some evidence that possibly some individuals sought to cover up the problem (I say evidence, not proof, btw). Again that is awful. But as for long-standing and deeply rooted.... No. Although I've seen stuff online, I've been active in the party for a number of years and I cannot recall ever seeing a single instance of anything locally that is remotely anti-semitic. Indeed we have one local member who is Jewish (and actively so) and he is absolutely furious - not about anti-semitism but about the extent to which he feels a tiny problem has been over-hyped up.
There is a problem - I would agree with that - but it's a problem with a small minority of members, not a problem with the Labour Party as a whole. And I would say that the extent of the problem has been hugely exaggerated by much of the press (at the same time as a similar and just as serious a problem with Islamophobia in the Conservative Party largely goes ignored).
Thanks for the detailed and reasoned response. It’s certainly interesting to hear your perspective as a Labour Party member.
I suppose as an outside observer, completely unconnected to the Labour Party, anti semitism has objectively seemed to become a big issue during Corbyn’s tenure. It has always been a known problem in far left circles, and the
best that can be said about Corbyn is that he has been spectacularly cloth eared to the issue, and has failed dismally in containing it on his watch. Unfortunately this inevitably leaves him open to accusations that he may indeed harbour anti Semitic views himself.
As I’m sure you’ll agree, pointing out islamophobia etc. in the Tory Party is no answer to the problem of anti semitism in the Labour Party - yet that often seems to be the standard response of many on the left (note I’m not suggesting you have done so).
That’s not to say that islamophobia is any more acceptable, of course, but the Tory party do seem to have reacted far more swiftly and robustly to the problem than Corbyn has to the (evidently much greater) problem of anti semitism in his own party.
As I’m sure you’ll also agree, particularly as a party member, that it’s extremely concerning that Labour are the only Party other than the BNP to have been formally investigated by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
On a related note, the distinction between Anti semitism and Islamophobia is a controversial one. It’s true to say that anti semitism is racism, in the sense that it
is possible to be ethnically Jewish, whereas it
is not possible to be ethnically Muslim. Islam is a belief system and, as such, it should never be shielded from legitimate criticism under the cloak of “racism”.
That’s part of the reason I’m extremely concerned by the adoption (by the Labour Party and the Lib Dems) of a definition of islamophobia which inextricably ties it in with racial prejudice. There’s a real risk that such a definition could become a de facto anti blasphemy law - which is of course totally unacceptable in a liberal society.
I’d be interested to hear your thoughts.
