Prominent left-wingers abandon Peter Willsman in Labour NEC election after anti-Semitism allegations emerge on tape Confusion in the ranks as candidate faces harsh criticism

Influential young left-wing activists have called on Labour members to drop their support for Peter Willsman after the candidate in elections for the ruling NEC was recorded claiming some accusations of anti-Semitism in the party had been “made up”.

Willsman is a member of the so-called “JC9” – a list of left-wing candidates endorsed by Momentum and others in order to cement control of the NEC by having pro-Corbyn figures in every seat.

The Jewish Chronicle published the tape of his remarks, in which he said he would not be lectured by “people in the Jewish community”, many of whom, he suggested, support Donald Trump.

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In the context of continuing allegations about Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour party’s attitude to anti-Semitism, Willsman’s words prompted a fierce backlash, with deputy leader Tom Watson calling him a “loud mouth bully”.

MP Luciana Berger, head of the Jewish Labour Movement group, said: “Sickening to listen to this.

“The fact that it took place in a meeting of Labour’s sovereign body the other week after all that’s happened is a disgrace.

“Blaming any other minority group wouldn’t be tolerated – why is the Jewish community treated this way?”

The disgusting disease of anti-Semitism

The #JC9 Ann Henderson, Claudia Webbe, Darren Williams, Huda Elmi, Jon Lansman, Nav Mishra, Pete Willsman, Rachel Garnham, Yasmine Dar (Endorsed by Momentum, Campaign for Labour Party Democracy, Centre-Left Grassroots Alliance and others)

Prominent writer and campaigner Owen Jones said: “After his comments, there’s no way I’ll vote for Pete Willsman for Labour’s NEC.

“I’ll proudly vote for the other eight excellent Labour left candidates. I won’t vote for someone who undermines the struggle against the disgusting disease of anti-Semitism.”

He added: “Labour’s leadership is full of people who are so so desperate to rebuild trust with Britain’s Jewish communities, and with my own limited platform, I’ll back them all the way.”

Matt Zarb-Cousin, an activist and former Jeremy Corbyn spokesman, said: “Pete Willsman should withdraw from the left slate, which he shouldn’t have been anywhere near in the first place to be honest.

“You’ve had your time Pete, time to go. Let someone else have a chance, preferably someone who doesn’t downplay racism.”

Commentator Abi Wilkinson said: “Have just listened to the Willsman recording and it’s somehow even worse than I expected. I want the rest of that slate to be selected but I don’t see how it’s justifiable to have him on the NEC.”

Continued support

The centrist slate Eda Cazimoglu, Gurinder Singh Josan, Heather Peto, Jasmin Beckett, Johanna Baxter, Lisa Banes, Luke Akehurst, Marianna Masters, Mary Wimbury (Endorsed by Progress and Labour First)

However, the full slate appears to have the continued support of several left-wing groups. Hard left MP Chris Williamson, who resigned his shadow minister job in January but remains a firm Corbyn supporter, tweeted an endorsement for the list including Willsman soon after the Jewish Chronicle story went live.

And Momentum, whose founder Jon Lansman also features on the slate, have yet to disavow Willsman. i has contacted the group for comment.

Lansman and others – including Corbyn – who attended the meeting where Willsman made his remarks came in for criticism for failing to intervene before they became public.

Filling the gap

Non-endorsed candidates Nicola Morrison, Jonathan Fletcher, Stephen Stanners, James Craigie, Stephen Guy, Gary Spedding, Eddie Izzard

With the JC9 in question, many Labour members on social media have discussed narrowing it down to the JC8 – minus Willsman – and choosing another candidate to fill the gap. The ability of Momentum and other Corbyn-supporting online groups to bring out votes is seen as crucial in the potentially low-turnout election which can be completed online.

Candidate Gary Spedding, who has not been endorsed by either Momentum, Progress or Labour First, described himself in a tweet as “a solid leftist who doesn’t dismiss the concerns of our Jewish compatriots” – though he drew criticism from Corbynites for a previous tweet in which he described him as “an abysmal leader” in 2017. He said it was “shameful that neither Jeremy Corbyn nor anyone else present spoke up to condemn the vile, indefensible and outrageous” comments by Willsman.

Another popular alternative is Ann Black, a “left independent” candidate who is seen as having radical politics but was absent from the “JC9” slate. “‘Ann Black and the JC8’ sounds like a great band name,” councillor Kerri Prince tweeted in endorsement.

This article was updated at 1pm to remove a reference to Gary Spedding including Jeremy Corbyn in his Twitter profile picture to attract support. Spedding says the profile picture is meant to “upset” the “radical pro-Corbyn” elements who claim he is a Blairite.