Reacting to the audio clip of Pete Willsman describing Jews as “Trump fanatics” and claiming Jews have invented the antisemitism crisis in the Labour Party, Karen Pollock MBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said:
“This tirade did not happen in some stuffy room of a fringe gathering in the back of beyond, this happened at a meeting of the ruling body of a mainstream political party with its Leader present. It is horrifying – not only for its content, but by the fact that the Labour Leader and General Secretary sat by, witnessed these disgusting, indefensible comments and said nothing.
“It is impossible not to recognise Mr Willsman’s contempt for the Jewish community, but even when it is staring him in the face, Mr Corbyn seems unphased. Our political leaders should be leading the charge against racism. To remain silent is complicit. This is unacceptable and terrifying.
“If our political leaders will not act, it is up to all of us to speak out against this hatred. I call on other like-minded people to join us and challenge racism, hatred and prejudice wherever they see it. This cannot continue.”