The chair of Labour Friends of Israel, Joan Ryan MP, has lost a vote of confidence in her local constituency over her criticism of party leader Jeremy Corbyn on the ongoing anti-Semitism row.
Ryan was targeted for deselection by members of her constituency who said she had “smeared” Corbyn’s character and “fuelled” the anti-Semitism storm that has engulfed the party this summer.
After a lengthy meeting in Enfield North on Thursday evening members were asked “do you support the motion of no confidence in Joan Ryan?” The results were 95 “yes” to 92 “no.”
The vote is being seen as the potential start of a formal deselection process.
Ryan has a history of undermining Corbyn both at local member meetings and to the press. She regularly votes against or abstains from policies pushed by Corbyn.
Ryan is also the chair of the Labour Friends of Israel lobby group which has put her at odds with Corbyn who is a lifelong pro-Palestine campaigner. She often uses her platform in the pro-Israel newspaper, the Jewish Chronicle, to attack the leader. She has been quoted saying Corbyn “is not interested in Middle East peace – just in meeting terrorists with blood on their hands” and that the Labour leader “appals” her.
Her anti-Corbyn stance has created much resentment among many Enfield North members who wish to remain loyal to the current party leader. Enfield North’s constituency has grown from 300 members to 1,000 since the election of Corbyn as leader.
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Before the vote, one Jewish member at the meeting stood up and defended Corbyn saying: “All the media has been attacking Jeremy Corbyn and I don’t think it is anything to do at all about anti-Semitism.” She continued: “Jeremy Corbyn is critical of Israel oppressing the Palestinians (..) That is what [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is scared of that, if a Labour government comes to power, they might force peace on Israel.”
After hearing from the speakers, Ryan was allowed to address the membership. She tried to sway the vote in her favour, saying: “I have never called Jeremy Corbyn not to be our leader, I’ve never called for him to stand aside, and I’ve never said he was anti-Semitic.”
“This idea that I go around attacking the leadership, that’s not right,” she added.
Ryan even tried quoting Nelson Mandela in an effort to save her from defeat: “When I was growing up the most important figure for me was Nelson Mandela (..) he said you can change the world you can make it a better place, you can make that difference with your own hands.”
The embattled MP took to Twitter after to vent her frustration at the defeat, slamming what she called “Trots Stalinists Communists” who had voted against her.
