A Labour councillor in London believes a culture change is necessary after he spoke out about “obsessional Jew-baiting and Israel bashing” in his local Labour Party branch.
Phil Rosenberg, who is a councillor on Camden council in North London, said he has been forced to speak out due to the toxic atmosphere in his local branch.
He said he wasn’t blaming individuals, but a “toxic” atmosphere has been created which has lead to increased antisemitism.
“I have unfortunately faced antisemitism before from some people in the Labour Party, however I’m not attacking individuals at this point, but there is a culture of people egging each other on and thinking it is okay,” he told the Ham&High.
According to him, at seven of the last nine meetings the Kilburn Brent Branch of the party has tabled “toe-curling motions singling-out Jews and Israel.
Outside of his role as a Labour representative, he is also the Director of Public Affairs, at the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the country’s EJC affiliate.
He is not re-standing for his West Hampstead seat. “The ‘ritual humiliation of the Jews’ must come before any competing business. Especially that of our MP daring to try and involve us in the work of making our area better.
“If that is not institutional racism, I don’t know what is.”
Rosenberg made his initial remarks in an article for the Times of Israel.
On Wednesday, the constituency party passed a symbolic vote to strip the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) of an award it received from leader Jeremy Corbyn, for campaigning within the party.
