Jewish Labour MP Louise Ellman to face move to oust her on Yom Kippur

A Jewish Labour MP is to face a move to oust her on the holiest day in the religion's calendar.



Activists in a branch of Louise Ellman's Liverpool Riverside constituency will debate a motion of no confidence in her next Tuesday - the evening of Yom Kippur.

It follows her outspoken attacks on Jeremy Corbyn's attempts to stamp out anti-semitism in the Labour party.

The motion says: "We have no confidence that our MP Louise Ellman will carry out the wishes of our CLP (Constituency Labour Party) and our Riverside constituency or that she will follow Labour Party policy.

"This branch therefore call on our Riverside MP, Louise Ellman, to resign."

It comes just days after it emerged that another Jewish Labour MP, Margaret Hodge, will have to face a full reselection process after being "triggered" by party members in her Barking seat.

Luciana Berger also faced a no confidence motion earlier this year in Liverpool Wavertree, but ended up leaving the Labour party and is now a Lib Dem MP.

Commenting on the attempts to force out Ms Ellman, who has represented her constituency since 1997, Marie van der Zyl , president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: “That a Jewish MP should be threatened with a vote of no confidence tabled for Yom Kippur – the holiest day in the Jewish calendar when she has no opportunity even to respond – ought to be a source of deep shame for the Labour Party.

"That Labour shelters anti-semites while attacking anti-racism campaigners is why the Equality and Human Rights Commission is investigating a political party for the first time since it looked into the activities of the BNP.

"Louise Ellman has fought bravely against anti-semitism in her own party, and she should be applauded, not vilified."

Fiona Sharpe, spokesperson for Labour Against Anti-semitism, said: "Once again, a Jewish woman MP in the Labour Party faces bullying and intimidation from her local members.

"And nothing seems to highlight the complete disdain and disrespect that the Labour Party apparently feels it is acceptable to demonstrate towards the Jewish community more than their decision to schedule the vote of no confidence in Dame Louise Ellman on Kol Nidre, our holiest day.

"The decision to table the motion on this date is, in our opinion, insensitive, outrageous and provocative, and only underlines the depth of institutional racism that now appears prevalent across the Labour movement."

A Labour spokesperson said: "No confidence motions have no formal standing in the party."