Labour conference: Momentum chair condemns 'grossly offensive' call to debate whether Holocaust happened

Exclusive: Jon Lansman speaks out against antisemitism as row threatens to overshadow party conference

Jon Lansman said he had never met a Holocaust denier in the Labour Party (Rex)

The founder and chair of Jeremy Corbyn-supporting group Momentum has condemned “grossly offensive” comments denying the Holocaust after the reemergence of a row over antisemitism threatened to overshadow Labour’s annual conference.

Jon Lansman, a key ally of Mr Corbyn, said Holocaust denial is “not acceptable” and backed calls for disciplinary action to be taken against anyone found guilty of promoting it.

It comes after reports that a speaker at a fringe event at the conference in Brighton had suggested people should be allowed to question whether the Holocaust took place. At the same event, speakers compared Israel to the Nazis and said the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) group should be “kicked out” of the party.

The speaker, named as Miko Peled, an Israeli-American author, is reported to have said: “This is about free speech, the freedom to criticise and to discuss every issue, whether it’s the Holocaust – yes or no – Palestine, the liberation, the whole spectrum.”

The row escalated to the conference floor on Tuesday when Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, a left-wing activist who chaired the “Free Speech on Israel” event where the issue of Holocaust denial was raised, used a speech to accuse JLM of “running to the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph” with stories.

In response, the group accused Ms Wimborne-Idrissi of antisemitism and demanded the party take disciplinary action against her.

Asked about the row, Mr Lansman told The Independent: “I have never come across a Holocaust denier in the Labour Party. Give me some examples.”

Reminded of the reported events at the fringe event the day before, he replied: “The Labour Party is not full of Holocaust deniers. In Germany it’s a criminal offence; I’m not advocating that it should be a criminal offence but of course Holocaust denial is grossly offensive to all of us.

He added: “I am Jewish. I’ve experienced antisemitism. That’s why I speak out against antisemitism and that’s why it matters to me. I want to eradicate it.”

Mr Lansman said he supported disciplinary action being taken against any Labour member found guilty of Holocaust denial, adding: “Holocaust denial is not acceptable.”

He said he “absolutely” condemned calls for JLM members to be expelled from the party but added: “There are lots of opinions among Jews and there are going to be different views about Israel Palestine in the Labour Party and amongst Jews

On Wednesday, Labour passed a motion making it easier for action to be taken against people in the party who are found guilty of antisemitism and other forms of discrimination.

The text had widespread support from across the party but had been criticised by some who felt it could prevent criticism of Israel.