Momentum members demand that Jon Lansman steps down with immediate effect

At this time when Labour MPs who don't agree with the Labour manifesto are leaving the party, Jon Lansman has made contentious and inappropriate remarks about antisemitism, effectively siding with those who have made unfounded allegations against the party, its members and its leadership:

– In the Evening Standard (front page, headline, 25 Feb) he is quoted as saying that "Labour has a major problem" with antisemitism;

– He recently said that it was a matter of time before the Derby North MP, Chris Williamson, "does something which results in a complaint being made which will then have to be investigated", legitimising his subsequent suspension

– that "the most influential antisemitism-deniers, unfortunately, are Jewish anti-Zionists"

– He has launched an angry attack on Jewish Voice For Labour, writing that they are "part of the problem and not part of the solution to antisemitism in the Labour Party."

In leaked correspondence, the Momentum founder also stated it was his "observation... that neither the vast majority of individual members of JVL nor the organisation itself can really be said to be part of the Jewish community."

In a letter written to JVL co-chairs Jenny Manson and Leah Levane, Mr Lansman also said that JVL "ill-serves the cause of Palestinian rights."

Mr Lansman launched his attack on the pro-Jeremy Corbyn group after they wrote to him suggesting he no longer reflected the views of most Momentum members - despite having founded the group himself.

Momentum was created out of the movement for Jeremy Corbyn to be elected as leader, to elect a Labour government, and to act as a bridge between the Party and the movement.

Jon Lansman's remarks have undermined both Momentum and the Labour Party. We know of members who have left the group because of Lansman's behaviour, and many more who are considering it.

When we joined Momentum, we couldn't imagine a couple of years later trying to unseat the founder. But his attitude towards the excellent work of the JVL has really shown his true colours, and if Momentum is ever going to achieve what it set out to achieve, he has to step down.

We believe that neither the vast majority of individual members of Momentum nor the organisation itself can really be said to support Jon Lansman.

We, the undersigned Momentum members, therefore call on the NCG (National Co-ordinating Group) to remove Jon Lansman from the chair of Momentum as a matter of urgency.