Labour Friends of Israel scraps plans to host stand at party conference because of antisemitic abuse

'Our staff have faced incidents of antisemitism in previous years....we do not feel it is responsible as an employer to put them in this environment'

The move underlines how the antisemitism controversy continues to dog Labour (EPA)

Labour Friends of Israel has scrapped plans to host a stand at the party’s conference this weekend, because of antisemitic abuse from delegates.

The organisation usually promotes itself at the annual gathering, but is afraid to put its staff in the firing line of hostility from some of the thousands of people who attend.

In a statement, Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) criticised “the failure of Jeremy Corbyn to do anything” to curb “the ongoing abuse of Jewish party members”.

“Our staff have faced incidents of antisemitism in previous years and, given that the situation appears to have further deteriorated, we do not feel it is responsible as an employer to put them in this environment,” it said.

The pull-out underlines how the antisemitism controversy continues to dog Labour, despite being overshadowed by the Brexit crisis in recent weeks.

In July, a Panorama investigation revealed how the Labour leader’s senior team repeatedly interfered in disciplinary cases, according to revelations made by Labour whistleblowers.

The programme also claimed that only 15 people had been expelled by Labour over antisemitism at that point, despite many hundred investigations.

Meanwhile, there is anger over plans by MP Chris Williamson – a Corbyn supporter currently suspended from the party over comments about antisemitism – to speak at numerous events during the five-day conference in Brighton.

The LFI statement added: “The ongoing abuse of Jewish party members – highlighted by July’s Panorama programme – and the failure of Jeremy Corbyn to do anything to deter his supporters from engaging in it, means that we have decided it would not be appropriate for us to have a stand at Labour party conference this year.”

The organisation still plans to host a reception at which, unlike at a stand in the exhibition hall, it will be able to closely police who is allowed to attend.

The saga over anti-Jewish abuse in Labour has raged for three years, despite efforts by senior figures to shut it down, recognising the damage being caused.

Critics say it took far too long for the party’s hierarchy to accept it had a genuine problem, with initial concerns often dismissed as “smears”.

Last year, after a summer of fierce criticism, Labour eventually agreed to adopt the internationally recognised definition of antisemitism and announced a new process designed to speed up investigations.

Mr Corbyn then spoke publicly about the scale of the issue, including apologising to the Jewish community, and disciplinary processes have been sped up.