Union leader suggests Israel 'created' anti-Semitism row - BBC News

The BBC report, I'm shocked https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-45517094

'A trade union leader has been recorded suggesting that Israel "created" the anti-Semitism row in the Labour Party.

In a recording published by the Independent, PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka suggested the country had created the story to hide what he called its own "atrocities".

Labour Against Anti-Semitism said Mr Serwotka had brought the entire TUC into disrepute and he should resign.

The PCS said he had made the point that anti-Semitism must be opposed.'

One fascinating line in that BBC report is this:

'Mr Serwotka rejoined the Labour Party in 2016 after 25 years. On Wednesday it was announced that had been elected TUC president for the coming year.' 

Coyly the BBC don't say what Mr Serwotka's politics were previous to rejoining the Labour Party. 

Wikipedia provides this:

'Serwotka was a member of Socialist Organiser in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He caused controversy during a speech at the 1985 Annual Conference of the Civil and Public Services Association when he described part-time workers, many of whom were trade union members, as "Scab Labour". He was later a supporter of the Socialist Alliance and then Respect.[13]

In February 2013, Serwotka was among those who gave their support to the People's Assembly in a letter published by The Guardian newspaper.[14] Serwotka attempted to vote in the 2015 Labour Leadership Election, but was among those who had their vote rejected by the party.[15]

In March 2016, Serwotka rejoined the Labour Party after being expelled from it over 25 years earlier.[16] He wrote in The Huffington Post: "Jeremy [Corbyn] is the first Labour leader in a generation who unequivocally supports the unions and his opposition to the trade union bill has been crucial." He added "I have joined to support Jeremy in transforming the party. And I want as many people as possible to join Labour, and to get involved in the fight against cuts where they live. This is our chance to build a social movement and form a government that can offer hope to the millions of people that deserve so much better than these contemptible Tories."[17]'

So he was expelled, something that the BBC omit from their report. It seems that Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party has moved far enough to the left for the likes of Serwotka to rejoin.