National media feature LAAS complaint

LAAS complaint about MP Clive Lewis becomes major news

The Independent, The Telegraph, Express, The Sun and more

The LAAS complaint and statements about the post by Labour MP Clive Lewis were widely reported across the national press and picked up by the international press.

These don't include local news, the report by Sky News who broke the story and the BBC which are featured in standalone posts

The independent piece is here:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-mp-israel-riots-clive-lewis-b2595483.html

The Telegraph piece is here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/08/12/labour-mp-accused-blame-israel-riots-islamophobia/

The Express here:

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1935645/Clive-Lewis-riots-Israel

The Yahoo! news story here

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/labour-mp-reported-party-blaming-094739615.html

The Sun here

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/29839933/labour-mp-jewish-anti-muslim-riots/

The National here:

https://www.thenational.scot/news/24512081.labour-mp-reported-party-blaming-israel-english-riots/

The Jerusalem Post here:

https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-814694

The Jewish Chronicle here:

https://www.thejc.com/news/politics/labour-mp-criticised-for-linking-israels-gaza-war-to-far-right-violence-qpfnfkvu

MSN:

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/official-complaint-sent-to-labour-over-mp-s-highly-irresponsible-social-media-post/ar-AA1oCk4U?ocid=BingNewsSerp

Alex Hearn, LAAS co-director, told Sky News that he believed Mr Lewis's post was "highly irresponsible" and should result in his "immediate suspension".

"It is very concerning that people across the political spectrum, from "anti-racists" to the far right, have fantasised that 'Zionists' and Israel are to blame for unrest across Britain," he said.

"A recent report by the Community Security Trust showed antisemitism in the last six months has gone up 105%, and that the pretext for these 1,978 incidents are often Palestine. This includes synagogues targeted 76 times and 121 assaults.

"For a Labour MP to blame a conflict thousands of miles away for the recent racism in far-right riots in Britain is highly irresponsible.

"When attacks against British Jews exploded following the Hamas 7 October massacre, no such link was made by Mr Lewis."

Mr Lewis declined to comment when approached by Sky News.

Mr Hearn added: "Labour Against Antisemitism call for his immediate suspension and for the whip to be removed while he is investigated.