Moderate Labour MPs now have no choice but to leave the Party

The Jewish community, and decent people generally, did not need more confirmation that Labour just doesn’t care about ridding itself of the anti-Semitism that has infested it since Jeremy Corbyn became leader. We were convinced when Pete Willsman was reelected to its National Executive, and when Richard Burgon remained as the Shadow Justice Secretary after their antisemitic comments were revealed.

However, what has become almost unbearable is the vomit-inducing tweets and statements from a number of moderate, reasonable Labour MPs and prominent activists. They publicly lament the antisemitism in their party and yet fail to do anything meaningful about it. They keep paying their membership dues, keep giving up their weekends to campaign.

These people would no doubt claim, probably quite legitimately, that they are lobbying and working within the party to deal with the problem. Staying and fighting.

The problem is the fight is over.

In a fashion typical of the Stalinist far-left, the wing that supports the party leadership and its acolytes like Williamson, totally dominate its internal structures. Those people were in the room to get Williamson’s suspension lifted, and they will be in the room next time this issue arises. Which, of course, it will.

Williamson’s return should be the final straw to prompt these people into action, but it won’t be. Instead we will see the likes of Wes Streeting and Tom Watson continue to tweet about how upset they are, before returning to campaigning for a Labour government. Walthamstow MP Stella Creasey even tweeted that people should “join Labour and have a real voice in its future” instead of “standing in sidelines [sic] telling others to do something and leaving them to stand up alone.” That argument borders on victim blaming.

Let’s not forget why Williamson was suspended in the first place. He was seen on camera ranting that “we have given too much ground, we have been too apologetic” about anti-Semitism. It was revolting Jew baiting, and now he’s back, just in time to be re-selected as a candidate for the next General Election, under the timeline outlined the other day by General Secretary, Jennie Formby.

Yet still the moderates do nothing. I know it’s hard to leave a political party. The tribalism, the sense of comradeship and family keeps you excusing an organisation’s worst traits.

There is also now the possibility that those in Labour appalled by antisemitism in their ranks missed their opportunity – making a decision to leave even more difficult.

On reflection, it is clear that they should have joined The Independent Group when it formed, when there was a chance of making it work, before it descended into a shambles. They should have left Labour to become the rump of clowns, cretins and conspiracists that it deserves to be. But they didn’t, and consequently they are stuck with a choice between campaigning for Jeremy Corbyn to be Prime Minister, when they know full well he is not fit to hold that role, or making a stand and probably having to return to civvy street.

Just because a decision is difficult though, that does not mean it should not be made. If enough of them acted together, either by joining TIG or forming another body, it might make a difference.

They could stay try and stop the likes of Williamson and Burgon being reselected. Not demand others take action, but actively campaign against the reselections themselves. However, given where the power lies in the party, it now seems unlikely that will have any effect. Whatever happens next, the upset tweets need to stop, and real, visible action needs to start.