Jo Bird

Jo Bird
Jew process: Jo Bird's play on words
Religion	Jewish
Interests	Jewish Voice for Labour

Jo Bird is the Labour and Co-operative councillor for Bromborough in the Wirral. Her term of office is from 23/08/2018 to 07/05/2020.

"Jew" process

On 4 March 2019, Jo Bird was suspended by the Labour Party pending investigation of allegedly antisemitic remarks she made in May 2018 at a meeting in support of political activist Marc Wadsworth, who was expelled for behaviour deemed "grossly detrimental" after a confrontation with Labour MP Ruth Smeeth in 2016.

Both a recording of a speech leaked to the Jewish Chronicle from the meeting and a blog written by Jo Bird for Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL) struck a similar tone on the issue, mentioning Labour members such as Mr Wadsworth and former London Mayor Ken Livingstone:

"JVL is campaigning with others to overturn Marc Wadsworth’s unfair expulsion, clear his name and to defend Jackie Walker (who is black and Jewish) and others earmarked for the next phase in expulsions.

"JVL is calling for disciplinary hearings to be paused until a due process has been established based on principles of natural justice. What I call Jew process."

Sorry for any offence caused

Speaking on Monday 4 March 2019, Cllr Bird said:

"I am sorry for any offence caused by my play on words - that was not my intention."

 

Related Document

Title	Type	Publication date	Author(s)	Description
Document:We condemn the suspension of Jo Bird and the appointment of Lord Falconer	Article	4 March 2019		As Ken Loach said: “If it looks like a witch hunt and behaves like a witch hunt – it may well be just that. This is intolerable and must end now.”

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