A PROMINENT Scottish member of Labour’s ruling body has withdrawn her support for a left-wing colleague who ranted about Jewish “Trump fanatics” at a party meeting.

Rhea Wolfson, who has been a victim of anti-Semitism, said she made a “mistake” in backing Peter Willsman’s re-election to Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

Mr Willsman, an ally of Jeremy Corbyn, was secretly taped at a July 17 NEC attacking those criticising the Labour leader on anti-Semitism. 

In a recording leaked to the Jewish Chronicle, he said: “Some of these people in the Jewish community support Trump – they are Trump fanatics and all the rest of it. I am not going to be lectured to by Trump fanatics making up duff information without any evidence at all.”

Despite sitting on an internal disputes panel, Mr Willsman also said he had never seen anti-Semitism in the party and was “amazed” when others at the NEC said they had.

The recording sparked another day of bitter recriminations within Labour, with potentially dangerous splits emerging at the very top of the party over the anti-Semitism row.

Deputy leader Tom Watson said Mr Willsman – who escaped disciplinary procedure after apologising for his comments – was “a loudmouthed bully”, adding: “He disgusts me.”

It was also reported that Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, Mr Corbyn’s closest ally, had challenged him over his handling of the crisis.
Senior figures fear the toxic issue could now overshadow the party’s autumn conference in Liverpool.

Former Labour minister Yvette Cooper said Mr Willsman should abandon his re-election bid to the NEC after his “appalling” remarks.

Jewish leaders also questioned why Mr Willsman was not disciplined, despite complaints about his tirade.

Labour MPs Dame Margaret Hodge and Ian Austin, who face being disciplined for criticising Mr Corbyn over the row, today become honorary patrons of the Campaign Against Semitism, just as it asks the Equality Commission to investigate Labour and Mr Corbyn.

Campaign chair Gideon Falter claimed Labour was now “institutionally anti-Semitic”.

Ms Wolfson, Labour’s Westminster candidate in Livingston, this week wrote an article describing the NEC of July 17 as “constructive and thoughtful” and omitted Mr Willsman.

After criticism by party colleagues, she told the Herald: “When you have 40 people working together with good intentions, one person doesn’t undermine that. I definitely appreciate now how it looks like an omission but it wasn’t intentional. It was trying to represent the bulk of our meeting. I was vocal in the meeting. I was unhappy with his comments. I don’t think he should now be supported to run for re-election. He should face internal disciplinary processes.”

Labour also launched a probe into a Shrewsbury councillor who shared a Facebook post comparing Israel’s PM to Hitler and suspended Fife councillor Mary Lockhart for suggesting Israel’s Mossad may be plotting against Mr Corbyn.

The party said it was committed to tackling anti-Semitism.