Fresh Labour row as 68 British rabbis accuse party of 'ignoring Jewish community' over new anti-Semitism code

More than 60 British rabbis have accused Labour of “ignoring” the Jewish community as a fresh row broke out last night over the party's new code on anti-Semitism.

In a letter savaging the Labour’s new code of conduct, several of the country’s most senior Jewish leaders attacked the party over its “insulting and arrogant” decision to amend the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s guidance on Jew hatred.

The 68 rabbis, drawn from Jewish communities across the country, claim that Labour officials have drawn their own interpretations of what constitutes anti-Semitism without consulting those who “understand anti-Semitism the best.”

It comes just days after a new code of conduct was published by the party’s national executive committee, which saw a number of key examples of anti-Semitism altered or amended.

The original definition has been implemented in-full by the Government, Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, the Crown Prosecution service and 124 local authorities.

But Labour’s decision to tamper with the guidance has provoked a backlash from MPs and Jewish leaders, who have accused party officials of treating anti-Semitism differently to other forms of racism and watering down examples of what constitutes it.

In an open rebuttal of Labour policy, the letter, published by The Guardian, states: “It is not the Labour party’s place to rewrite a definition of antisemitism...accepted by the vast majority of Jewish people in Britain and globally.

“On behalf of our communities, members and congregants, we urge the Labour party to listen to the Jewish community, adopt the full and unamended IHRA definition...including its examples.”

Last night the row escalated further at a meeting of  the Parliamentary Labour Party, where an “overwhelming” number of MPs voted for a motion calling on the party to adopt the full definition.

According to one source present, Jennie Formby, Labour’s new general secretary, was also rebuked for failing to attend the meeting, just hours after she circulated a letter to colleagues defending the new code.

Luciana Berger, chair of Jewish Labour Movement, said the decision to reject the new code showed that MPs would fight “any attempt to tinker, water down, or otherwise amend” guidance on anti-Semitism.”

However, sources close to the Labour leadership last night attempted to play down the significance of the decision, insisting that the vote could not force the NEC to reverse its decision.

The controversy came just hours after the Jewish Labour Movement, a party affiliate, handed Labour officials new legal advice claiming that the new code of conduct could be in breach of the Equality Act.

The advice, prepared by Tom Frost, a law lecturer at the University of Sussex, suggests that Labour has ignored guidance laid down by Sir William Macpherson, the retired High Court judge who led the Stephen Lawrence inquiry.

Under the so-called ‘Macpherson principle’, a racist incident is one perceived to be racist by the victim.

However, in comments that are likely to fuel the growing split in Labour, Ms Formby last night wrote to MPs warning that an example of anti-Semitism contained in the original definition ran the “risk of prohibiting legitimate criticism of Israel.”

She added: “It would be entirely wrong, in our determination to eradicate one form of racism from our party, to prohibit the identification of another.”

Responding to the backlash, a Labour spokesman strongly denied the party was attempting to redefine anti-Semitism.

“[The code is] the most detailed and comprehensive guidelines on antisemitism adopted by any political party in this country,” they continued.

“There will continue to be discussion and dialogue with Jewish communal organisations, rabbis and synagogues about the Code of Conduct and fighting antisemitism.”