John McDonnell MP writes to Keir Starmer
JVL Introduction
John McDonnell has again put it to Keir Starmer that as leader he should take responsibility for the shockingly harsh impact of the Party’s disciplinary treatment on many Jewish Labour Party members accused of antisemitism.
This is evidenced by a legal challenge citing breaches of the Equality Act in relation to Stephen Marks (see the post here).
So far McDonnell has not received any response to his email.
RK
From: MCDONNELL, John
Sent: 18 December 2023 11:57
To: STARMER, Keir <keir.starmer.mp@parliament.uk>
Subject: Treatment of Jewish Members of the Party
Dear Keir,
You may recall that I wrote to you on 22th July expressing my concern at the treatment by the party of Jewish members, in particular the members of Jewish Voice for Labour, (JVL). This was further to the findings of the Forde report that you commissioned.
In my correspondence to you and David Evans I wrote the following:
“I am strongly recommending that, as part of demonstrating the seriousness of the Party’s intent to address the Forde Report’s concerns, both of you should address the treatment of the group, Jewish Voice for Labour, by the Party.
The treatment of this group and many of its members by the Party has been disregarding, disrespectful, at times uncaring, even brutal, and, some have argued, has amounted to discrimination. ………………..
The Report (by Martin Forde KC ) has evidenced that the Party’s disciplinary procedures have been used to target specific individuals for factional purposes. Shockingly the Report confirms that this has been used to exclude people from a ballot, in other words, for ballot rigging purposes. ……………..
The evidence of the disproportionate number of members of JVL being disciplined, suspended and expelled from the Party must add to the Forde concerns that the Party’s disciplinary process has not been fair and has indeed been open to abuse for factional purposes.”
Your response to my email was to refer it to the General Secretary on the basis that the disciplinary procedure was an independent process that you had no role in as leader of the party.
I find that difficult to accept because as leader of the party you clearly have a role in ensuring all the party’s activities and procedures are fair and above board and you are also a member of the National Executive Committee, which is charged with the management of the party and its behaviour and processes.
I am writing to you again as regrettably matters have moved on and I have been informed that a legal action has commenced against the party specifically concerning the treatment of a Jewish party member, who is a member of JVL.
I have attached a copy of the letter of claim that has been sent to the Labour Party, which has been published.
I am sure that like me, you will be concerned about the impact of the party’s action on the health and wellbeing of Stephen Marks, who has been an active and dedicated member of our party for so many years.
My view is that the party should do all it can to avoid damaging Stephen Marks’ health any further and therefore should address the worrying issues raised in the letter from Bindmans.
My fear is that there are others who have suffered similar health problems as a result of their treatment at the hands of the party.
I have expressed my concerns to you on several occasions about the use of the party’s disciplinary procedures on party members and indeed on members of the Parliamentary Labour Party.
I recommended that you invite Martin Forde KC to investigate once again the party’s treatment of its members and the role and impact of the disciplinary process.
In view of the strong concerns expressed to you by so many members recently and in the light of this threatened legal action I believe that this approach is even more necessary and urgently needed.
I would welcome your views therefore on how you intend to proceed.
Yours,
John
Labour is irredeemable, and still remains a dead end. Peoples need to move on from Labour, its not going to change. In fact, energy would be far better spent on building a real working class movement.
Out of interest, what are JVL’s thoughts on members of the CPGB-ML being arrested the other day ?
I agree entirely with the previous comment. It was evident that this would happen when the four candidates for leader embraced the whole of the demands of the BoD – including relegating members of JVL and similar organizations to the ‘fringe’ and to be ostracized. Some of us abandoned the party at that time because of that action against left Jews.
Contrary to what some say, Corbyn appearing to lack a backbone in the face of antisemitism charges, isn’t due to being a coward, but because he’ll always be more loyal to Labour, and he was never supposed to be its leader. We like to sometimes romanticise ‘old’ Labour, and talk about Blair and Starmer as if their out if place, but the reality is, their well at home in the Labour Party, and it’s long acted against the aspirations of the working class, as well as being pro-imperialist.
John McDonnell – could have been more robust in defending Jeremy Corbyn and Dianne Abbot over what is clearly a purge of the Left. Like many Labour Members – I am holding onto my Membership so I can vote for a new leader. As for door knocking for Labour – I can’t lie to people – Starmer is a sham – and promises what people want to hear to get their vote but will drop a pledge or promise at without a care. Donations and burning shoe leather and petrol as I have done for years ? No – Hope John is not concerned about Labours election chances in 2024 – the Tories already have Starmer down as a untrustworthy. And they have the evidence!!!
I struggle to think of a single instance of late where Keir Starmer stands with the oppressed and not the oppressor. Indeed, for JVL members, I can only think the Labour Party must sadly feel like an oppressive force they’re having to do battle with – just to have their voice heard in the party!
Really, what ‘progressive’ thinking person wants to belong to – or vote for – a political party so obviously comfortable with excluding and punishing some of its members in favour of others? Just how much longer is this to go on! Are Jewish Labour members (along with Black or Muslim members) only now to be treated decently and fairly if on the right of the party? Only on condition of echoing Labour’s position on the State of Israel?
TLPID, It’s nothing to do with romanticising old Labour, and everything to do with a man of integrity and high principles. Someone you know you can trust and believe in.
As I’m sure everyone will recall, the first phase of the A/S black op (although we didn’t know it then) was the Oxford University Labour Club episode, and Jeremy being Jeremy, he was obviously concerned and, as such, initiated an inquiry into the matter. But what REALLY kicked off the A/S black op was the Naz Shah/Ken Livingstone episode at the end of the April, and it was of course no coincidence that Naz Shah’s facebook posts just happened to magically come to light just ten days or so before the local elections, and the first that Jeremy was facing as Labour leader. And just about the WHOLE of the MSM pretended that they believed she had seriously suggested that Israel be moved to the US – ie the population of Israel, that is. And then Ken was set up big time, and also fraudulently accused of antisemitism, along with bucket loads of faux outrage.
And my point – as I have posted on here on more than a few occasions over the past few years – is that when it was put to Jeremy that the Party had an A/S problem, he denied and refuted it and, as such, got fraudulently hammered for it. And as before, I yet again post a link to the DM article published online later that day (and in the hard-copy newspaper the following day) as an example of the attack on Jeremy:
‘Labour in crisis over ‘anti-semitic’ scandal: MPs demand Corbyn gets his ‘head out of the sand’ after Red Ken is SUSPENDED…….’
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3563223/Ken-Livingstone-claims-Hitler-supported-Zionism-supported-moving-Jews-Israel-went-mad-ended-killing-six-million-Jews.html
Allan Howard – if JC had any of those traits, he would of walked from Labour a long time ago to set up an independent party.
As an experiment I fed John McDonnell’s letter to ChatGPT and asked it to compose a reply from Keir Starmer. This is what it came up with after a few seconds. As you can see Starmer could save himself a lot of time while observing every hypocritical convention of bourgeois politesse:
Subject: Re: Treatment of Jewish Members of the Party
Dear John,
Thank you for your letter dated 18 December 2023 regarding the treatment of Jewish members within the party and, in particular, the concerns raised about Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL). I appreciate your continued engagement on this matter.
I share your commitment to ensuring fairness, respect, and a healthy environment for all members. I have reviewed your correspondence, including the recommendation to invite Martin Forde KC to investigate the party’s treatment of its members and the disciplinary process.
I want to emphasize that I take these concerns seriously, and I understand the gravity of the legal action initiated by Stephen Marks. The wellbeing of our members is of utmost importance, and it deeply concerns me that party actions may have impacted his health.
I will carefully examine the attached letter of claim from Bindmans and assess the situation thoroughly. In the coming days, I will consult with the relevant party bodies, including the National Executive Committee, to determine the most appropriate course of action.
Your suggestion to revisit the investigation by Martin Forde KC is duly noted, and I will consider the feasibility of such an approach in light of the recent developments and concerns raised by party members.
I appreciate your dedication to the party and your commitment to addressing these challenging issues. Rest assured that I am fully engaged in finding a fair and just resolution.
I will keep you informed of the steps we take to address these matters promptly.
Yours sincerely,
Keir Starmer
Leader of the Labour Party