Thread by @AntisemitismOut

1/ A few weeks ago we were published in the @NewStatesman covering our direct action approach to tackle the failure of our party locally and nationally to deal with an extremely serious case of unapologetic antisemitism. See here: newstatesman.com/politics/stagg…

2/ The response we received from all quarters was loud and mixed. Some positive, some negative, some shocked, some angry, some incredulous, some jubilant. What followed next took us by surprise - it seems we'd let a cork out from the bottle, across the party.

3/ We only expected that this small article would be the wake up call our local, regional and perhaps national party needed to move to suspend the offender. Something which should have been done months ago. Not @TalOfer @JewishChron @guardian etc picking up & running the story.

4/ What we absolutely didn't expect was Christine Shawcroft resigning from the NEC with disturbing revelations that our antisemitism problems go right to the top of the party. That @eddieizzard got appointed to the NEC after all this is a mad silver lining to this hot mess.

5/ Now, after disciplinary procedures against us have been rightly slapped down, it feels time to reflect, and firstly let me say that whilst we are pleased that action has now been taken against Alan Bull...

6/... we are still firmly convinced like our fellow campaigners @LabourAgainstAS @antisemitism @EuanPhilipps @emmacpicken @GnasherJew that this is the tip of the iceberg and that warm words are not enough. Far more hard action is needed to destroy this poison killing @UKLabour

7) It is not the place here to elaborate all the things that need to happen, although @RichardAngell published a brilliant 10 step programme that we would 100% endorse, see here:
progressonline.org.uk/2018/03/27/how…

8/ That aside, we wanted to get a few things off our chest.....

9/ First, this was no Blairite conspiracy to destabilise Labour / damage Labour's chances at the polls / attack Corbyn / attack his acolytes. People trying to conflate motives are getting excuses in early, smokescreeing to avoid engaging with our antisemitism problem, or both.

10) Second, all Tories and other parties (UKIP in particular) revelling in our antisemitism problem and promoting their moral superiority - don't laugh too hard. We've seen your dirty secrets come out & they've rarely if ever been exposed by whistle-blowers who care about racism!

11) Labour is the anti-racist party. It has to be, otherwise it is not the Labour Party anymore. We did what we did to defend Labour. I would be shocked to see a UKIP, and at least surprised to see a Tory, Councillor or MP actively challenge prejudice in their party.

12/ To any on the left, especially the cranks who've trolled us, who think we were attacking Jeremy or Momentum - you're wrong. This party is bigger than a man or a movement. It's about fundamental values that underline the core of what Labour is about.

13/ That's why we did what we did, and we would do it again. We were trying desperately hard to cure a family member, a loved one - our beloved party - of a vile disease, before it killed them. If you don't want to cure Labour of this disease, then you aren't true Labour IMO.

14/ You don't belong in this party if you can't both condemn antisemitism AND take the genuine, well intentioned action and steps needed to challenge it.

15/ Finally, just to clarify, that while both of us believe the deliberate conflation of the Israel-Palestine conflict and the antisemitism debate is a huge part of the problem, we are, to avoid any doubt, critical of leaders & actions on both sides of that tragic and bloody war.

16/ If you've read this far, then thank you, and I hope this clarification sets the record straight for some people!!