BICOM

The Labour Party National Executive Committee adopted the IHRA antisemitism definition last night with all its examples.

But UK Jewish organisations criticised the Labour Party for issuing a confusing additional statement that said: “This does not in any way undermine the freedom of expression on Israel and the Palestinians.” It is feared that this wording signals that extremist and offensive language could still be permitted.

It later emerged that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tried and failed to issue a lengthy statement that appeared to condone calling Israel a racist endeavour. A leaked extract said: “Nor should it be regarded as antisemitic to describe Israel, its policies, or the circumstances around its foundation as racist because of their discriminatory impact, or to support another settlement of the Israel-Palestine conflict.”

Dame Margaret Hodge, who called the Labour leader an antisemite, described the move as: “Two steps forward and one step back. Why dilute the welcome adoption in full of the IHRA definition with an unnecessary qualification.”

The Jewish Leadership Council accused the Labour Party of “acting shamefully to undermine the entire IHRA definition” and said the free speech caveat “drives a coach and horses through the IHRA definition”.