The Londoner: Jewish Deputies' fury over 'V sign'

Momentum's invitation to Chris Williamson MP criticised / US Embassy hosts pub quiz / Naked protester's nude portrait / Vince Cable's Latin lament...
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9 May 2019

Momentum branches have given a “calculated V sign to the Jewish community” by inviting suspended Labour MP Chris Williamson to their meetings, the Board of Deputies of British Jews says.

Williamson, who was suspended by the Labour Party in February over anti-Semitism remarks, has appeared at Momentum events in Bedford and Thanet in the past few weeks. Though Momentum has won plaudits for tackling anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, the Board of Deputies said “clearly the Bedford and Thanet branches have not received the memo”.

Momentum did not respond to requests for comment from The Londoner. However, form suggests that Momentum HQ does retain enough power over its branches to anger local members when there is disagreement.

Last year a row broke out about candidate selection for Labour Parliamentary seats. Laura Rogers, the chair of a Momentum branch in Cornwall, said that since internal changes in November 2016 “no member has had a vote on anything of any substance and local groups have no power at all”.

But Momentum appears not to have prevented Williamson appearing at its local branches. When contacted in April about Williamson appearing at the Bedford meeting, Momentum declined to comment. On Monday Williamson spoke at what he called an “excellent” Momentum event in Thanet. He was on a platform alongside Extinction Rebellion and pressure group Jewish Voice for Labour. Williamson, the MP for Derby North, was suspended for saying Labour had been “too apologetic” about anti-Semitism at a meeting with activists in Sheffield. He apologised himself once the comments became public.

The Board of Deputies told The Londoner: “This is a man who was suspended over anti-Semitism having baited the Jewish community multiple times. We expect Momentum explicitly to tell its branches not to invite speakers who have been suspended by the party — something they should already know and understand.”

Relationship posers

The US embassy threw open its doors for a pub quiz last night to mark US defence secretary Mike Pompeo’s visit. Up to 20 teams took part, with The Institute for Government triumphant, the Treasury in second place and No 10 in third.

Besides the obligatory Game of Thrones round, there was a “special relationship” section featuring questions that included “who coined the term special relationship?” (A: Churchill), “which president was first to visit the UK?” (Wilson), “how many MPs are called James?” (eight) and “how many female permanent secretaries are there?” (six).

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Naked Brexit protester Dr Victoria Bateman has spent £10,000 for her nude portrait, painted by Anthony Connolly, to go on view at Girton College, Cambridge “as a 40th birthday present to myself”. At the Mall Galleries yesterday, Bateman told us Nude With Book is “a defiant response to those who criticise women for using their bodies in ways that are deemed not socially acceptable”.

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Poppy Delevingne, star of Sky’s Riviera, spent summers on the Cote d’Azur as a child but says “there was a lot less scandal than on Riviera”. But her father, Charles, thinks Riviera isn’t racy enough. “Not enough tits and bums like Game of Thrones,” he told The Londoner.

Hancock joins the sisterhood

Dave Benett/Getty Images for All

London’s sisterhood gathered last night to celebrate the launch of the AllBright Mayfair, the latest clubhouse of the powerful women’s network founded by entrepreneurs Debbie Wosskow and Anna Jones. The five-storey Maddox Street premises was packed with editors, businesswomen and investors, who enjoyed a performance by several-time Brit award winner Emeli Sandé. Also celebrating the sisterhood was Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who enjoyed canapés by AllBright’s chef Sabrina Gidda, one of the stars of the Great British Menu. Earlier on, the actor Olivia Wilde turned up for a photocall with Wosskow and Jones.

Across town, Samantha Cameron joined Arizona Muse and Mary Charteris for a supper in celebration of Fenwick’s collaboration with fashion writer Alice Naylor-Leyland, who hosted the event. Sophia Hesketh, daughter of former Tory peer and Grand Prix team owner Alexander Hesketh, was also in attendance.

SW1A

Islington is bristling after Jeremy Corbyn (below) tweeted his support for Spurs last night. “Even an Arsenal fan can appreciate the astonishing performances by @LFC and @SpursOfficial,” he posted. “Two underdogs defying the odds to set up an all English Champions League Final. Congratulations and good luck to both teams in the final. #AJATOT”. “Jeremy, what are you doing, you’re meant to be a Gooner?” asked one fan.

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One detail in Johnny Mercer’s letter to Theresa May caught the eye. “I,” wrote Mercer, “and far more erstwhile colleagues, have worked hard to give you options”. Erstwhile means former... a Freudian slip?

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Vince Cable has a retirement plan. “I want to go back to Blackpool and do more competitions,” the former Strictly contestant says. “Ballroom is what I’m confident with but I do a good jive and Latin too.” There’s one problem with Latin, though... “You’ve got to have good hips.”

Ukipper's ambition that didn't stand up

Carl Benjamin, the Ukip candidate who “joked” about raping Labour MP Jess Phillips, allegedly once harboured ambitions of becoming a comedian. “Not much of a consolation,” tweeted comic Robert Webb, “but dear Carl sent sketches on spec for That Mitchell and Webb Sound. They were, of course, s**t.” Webb has since deleted the comments, including one tweet where he referred to Benjamin as “a funniless warthog”. Benjamin has denied sending in sketches on YouTube, fuming: “I just tell funny jokes that I find funny.”

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