Two Guardian letters on the way forward

JVL Introduction

Two letters published in the Guardian:

Anthony Isaacs argues that Corbyn needs  “a proactive, time-tabled strategy, rather than appearing to be at the mercy of events. Engagement without preconditions is key to this”;

Richard House stresses the need to stand firm against “the unholiest of establishment alliances” that “will do anything to thwart a redistributive Labour government with a moral compass”

 

The way ahead for Labour on antisemitism

Dr Anthony Isaacs proposes a time-tabled strategy; Dr Richard House says Labour supporters of Corbyn will not let him be destroyed


The views of your correspondents (Populist Jeremy Corbyn is riding the tiger of antisemitism, Letters, 6 August) and the response of Jewish communal leaders to Jeremy Corbyn’s recent statements (Opinion, 4 August) are deeply depressing for those seeking a resolution to the debilitating row over antisemitism. Corbyn has acknowledged that Labour has been too slow to get a grip on this issue or to consult with the Jewish community. He must now move on to develop a proactive, time-tabled strategy, rather than appearing to be at the mercy of events. Engagement without preconditions is key to this, and inflammatory language can have no place in facilitating such engagement.

It will take time to restore trust, but with goodwill on both sides, it should be possible for Labour to set out a detailed programme for combatting antisemitism within its own ranks and society generally which has communal support, as would be the case for fighting racism directed against any other minority, while preserving freedom of expression. This would be aided by both sides committing to address the problems of the Middle East within a human rights framework. Those who seek to impede such a resolution, especially when the government is paralysed by Brexit and the country desperately needs an undistracted opposition able to formulate policies to address the dire consequences of austerity, will bear a heavy responsibility.
Dr Anthony Isaacs
London


It seems that the unholiest of establishment alliances has even taken in many readers of this fair-minded newspaper. First, it appears that the ideological supporters of the Israeli state won’t relent until Jeremy Corbyn is removed. Next, the largesse-addicted establishment proper will do anything to thwart a redistributive Labour government with a moral compass. Then there is the Blairite PLP rump, determined to return to the Tory-lite New Labour regime. And, for good measure, a rightist media with its own vested interest in destroying Labour.

Corbyn has been deeply hurt by these unremitting attacks from this farrago of an alliance. This orchestrated assault on Corbyn has everything to do with destroying him; and they’ve chosen their cause celebre very carefully – which they’ll stoke and keep running until (they calculate) Jeremy eventually falls on his sword, exhausted.

Many hundreds of thousands of Labour and Corbyn supporters – the many – have decidedly other ideas. We’re not going to allow the ideological few to obliterate the only chance in our lifetime of securing a genuinely progressive Labour government.
Dr Richard House
Stroud, Gloucestershire