Antisemitism Accusations Plague New Party Official

0:00On March 12, a newly elected member of your party's Central Executive Committee faces accusations of pushing anti-Semitic ideas. 65-year-old Soma Ahmed won her seat last month in the same vote that boosted Jeremy Corbyn's influence in the party. Critics point to her claim that the Israel lobby triggered an offset inspection at a school in Bristol. That school had cancelled a visit from Jewish labor MP Damian Egan over planned pro-Palestinian protests. Ahmed has made other controversial statements online. She called the deaths of a British Israeli mother and her two daughters in a suspected Palestinian attack last year, just said, but blamed it on. Radicalization in the Jewish community. She also labeled the Nobel Peace Prize a Zionist Award and suggested political candidates need Israel ties to succeed. Before joining your party, Ahmed was a labor activist and civil servant until 2016. She left labor in July 2022, saying it no longer supported her Muslim faith.

1:01She ran unsuccessfully for a parliamentary spot, complaining about the need for labor friends of Israel backing, and was part of Corbynite groups. Like momentum, Jewish groups have reacted strongly. A Jewish labor source called it a haven for conspiracy theorists under Corbyn. The Jewish Leadership Council warned her comments echo dangerous historical tropes against Jews. They say such rhetoric has no place in British politics and worries many in the community. Meanwhile, Ahmed's grassroots left slate took seven seats in the committee vote, with Corbyn's group grabbing 14 of 24. The committee meets for the first time this Tuesday as concerns linger over the party's direction.