Labour NEC election results in full: Peter Willsman re-elected despite anti-Semitism row
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Loading... - Mary Campbell
- 04 Sep 2021
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Labour members elected nine Jeremy Corbyn-backing candidates to its National Executive Committee today, strengthening the Labour leader's hold on the ruling body.
Peter Willsman was re-elected to the committee, despite being dropped from Momentum's list of approved candidates over comments he made about Jews.
The Corbyn-backing campaign group said it was "inappropriate" for Peter Willsman to call some members of the Jewish community "Trump fanatics" and also suggest they were "making up" problems about anti-Semitism in the party.
He made the comments during a fraught meeting of the NEC in July, where the body refused to adopt the internationally recognised IHRA definition of anti-Semitism in full, including its examples.
The NEC is expected to consider the IHRA definition again tomorrow, and has been predicted to adopt it in full.
Today the party revealed the original 'JC9 slate' of nine candidates approved by Momentum had been elected.
Mr Willsman said: "Thanks to all the party members that voted for me. As I have said, I see my job to be supporting our leader, JC, my friend for 41 years.
"No Labour leader has been more principled and committed than Jerry. He will lead a Labour government that will fundamentally address the economic and social problems on a scale not seen since the post-war Attlee government.
"This is why the rich and powerful spend so much time trying to undermine him.
"Sadly, some MPs, elected by Labour voters, seem willing to help the rich and powerful."
Comedian and Labour activist Eddie Izzard was the closest of the 'moderate' candidates to being elected, but lost to Willsman by more than 2,500 votes.
Laura Parker, Momentum's National Coordinator, said: “These results are a fantastic victory for ordinary grassroots members and another step forward in building a reinvigorated, democratic Labour party that is capable of winning the next election.
"The success of all eight Momentum backed candidates builds on our NEC results from last year, and we're now looking forward to this year’s Labour Conference where the democracy review and open selections for parliamentary candidates are set to be debated.”
Denny Taylor, a spokesperson for Labour Against Antisemitism said: "Even if the NEC does adopt the IHRA definition at its meeting on Tuesday, it is difficult to believe that these members will accept the definition and uphold its parameters to challenge racial hatred against Jews in the party.
"It is highly disappointing that, despite the raised profile of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party over the summer, Labour members have chosen to give their support to candidates so apparently ambivalent towards tackling what is an existential threat to our party."
Richard Angell, director of Progress - Labour’s centre-left movement - said: “A clean sweep for the Momentum backed slate is no surprise – and no real change.
"While is it obviously disappointing for those who want a centre-left future for Labour, it means that Momentum must stop blaming others for the party’s problems and sort them out as the establishment they now are.
“The re-election of Pete Willsman shows institutional antisemitism in the party and the real need for action. However, with Willsman at the top table that is less likely to happen."
Here are the results in full
|
RESULTS (9 to elect) |
|
|
|
DAR, Yasmine |
88,176 |
ELECTED |
|
WEBBE, Claudia |
83,797 |
ELECTED |
|
LANSMAN, Jon |
83,072 |
ELECTED |
|
GARNHAM, Rachel |
81,702 |
ELECTED |
|
ELMI, Huda |
80,371 |
ELECTED |
|
WILLIAMS, Darren |
79,361 |
ELECTED |
|
HENDERSON, Ann |
79,176 |
ELECTED |
|
MISHRA, Navendu |
75,224 |
ELECTED |
|
WILLSMAN, Peter |
70,321 |
ELECTED |
|
IZZARD, Eddie |
67,819 |
|
|
BAXTER, Johanna |
50,185 |
|
|
SINGH JOSAN, Gurinder |
48,643 |
|
|
BLACK, Ann |
45,566 |
|
|
BECKETT, Jasmin |
43,955 |
|
|
PETO, Heather |
43,774 |
|
|
AKEHURST, Luke |
43,156 |
|
|
CAZIMOGLU, Eda |
40,807 |
|
|
WIMBURY, Mary |
40,507 |
|
|
BANES, Lisa |
37,993 |
|
|
MASTERS, Marianna |
35,061 |
|
|
FLETCHER, Jonathan |
15,303 |
|
|
GUY, Stephen |
14,985 |
|
|
MORRISON, Nicola |
10,671 |
|
|
CRAIGIE, James |
10,326 |
|
|
SPEDDING, Gary |
9,854 |
|
|
STANNERS, Stephen |
8,909 |
|
What is the National Executive Committee?
The NEC is Labour's ruling body. It has 33 members representing local parties, unions, MPs, MEPs and young activists.
It decides internal rules and process. That means 'control' of it has been a big talking point since Jeremy Corbyn took power.
