Labour faced widespread criticism for its delay in adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism, but where do the other main parties stand?
In July the Conservative party claimed it had adopted the definition in full, but at the time its code of conduct made no mention of antisemitism. The code stated that discrimination on the basis of “religion or belief” constituted a breach of the party’s rules but did not specify a definition of antisemitism, despite Theresa May saying all political parties should adopt the full IHRA definition.
Since then the Tory party’s code has been amended to include an interpretive annexe on discrimination, which does refer to the IHRA definition.
It now says:
Discrimination includes victimising or harassing any other person because of race (including colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality, citizenship), sex, gender re-assignment, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, religion or belief [which should be interpreted as fully adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism], pregnancy and maternity status.
The Liberal Democrats formally adopted the IHRA definition in full this week with the worked examples.
A spokesman said:
Liberal Democrats are committed to fighting bigotry and prejudice in all its forms. The federal board of the Liberal Democrats has officially re-confirmed the party’s adoption of the 2016 International Holocaust Memorial Alliance definition of antisemitism in full, with its worked examples. It has been used by the party to handle complaints and disciplinary processes since 2016.
Jonathan Fryer, chair of Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine, told Jewish News: “LDFP is firmly opposed to antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of discrimination. However, in common with several Liberal Jewish groups, as well as legal opinions from a number of authorities (as well as the author of the definition himself), we do have reservations about the wisdom of adopting the IHRA definition with its examples, because of its implications for freedom of expression.”
A spokesman for the SNP pointed out that the SNP-led Scottish government had adopted the definition in June 2017, but has yet to clarify whether the party itself has also adopted it.
The Green party’s ruling body has discussed adopting the IHRA as part of an internal review but has so far decided against.
A spokesman said:
The Green party is opposed to racism in all its forms, and that includes antisemitism and Islamophobia. We are currently updating and reviewing our own internal policies, to ensure that they represent our opposition to, and tackling of, all forms of racism and prejudice, wherever they exist and by whomever they are perpetrated. The party's executive has discussed the IHRA, but this was not conclusive so our internal processes are ongoing.