Pro-Israel UK Labour MP Joan Ryan loses vote of confidence over anti-Semitism row

A leading pro-Israel member of parliament in the UK Labour Party has lost a vote of confidence over her criticism of party leader Jeremy Corbyn in the anti-Semitism row within Labour.

Joan Ryan, the chair of Labour Friends of Israel, was targeted for deselection by members of her constituency, who said she had "smeared" Corbyn's character and "fuelled" the anti-Semitism storm that has engulfed the party this summer.

Members of Enfield North, a peripheral Greater London constituency, came out in large numbers to vote after a motion of no confidence had been called on the rebel MP.

After a lengthy meeting which included six speakers debating either for or against Ryan, the over 100 members in attendance cast their votes. When asked "do you support the motion of no confidence in Joan Ryan?" The results given were 95 yes to 92 no.

It is being seen as the potential start of a formal deselection process, which ultimately involves a “trigger ballot” by members and constituency affiliates.

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Ryan has a history of undermining the current Corbyn both at local member meetings and to the press. She regularly votes against or abstains from critical policies pushed by the Corbyn's party making her a notorious title rebel MP.

Ryan is also the chair of the Labour Friends of Israel lobby group which has put her at odds with Corbyn who is a lifelong pro-Palestine campaigner.

She often uses her platform in the pro-Israel newspaper, the Jewish Chronicle, to attack the leader. She has been quoted saying Corbyn "is not interested in Middle East peace - just in meeting terrorists with blood on their hands" and that the Labour leader "appals" her.

Her anti-Corbyn stance has created much resentment among many Enfield North members who wish to remain loyal to the current party leader. Enfield North’s constituency has grown from 300 members to 1,000 since the election of Corbyn as leader.

Before the vote, one Jewish member at the meeting stood up and defended Corbyn saying: "All the media has been attacking Jeremy Corbyn and I don't think it is anything to do at all about anti-Semitism."

She continued: "Jeremy Corbyn is critical of Israel oppressing the Palestinians (..) That is what [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is scared of that, if a Labour government comes to power, they might force peace on Israel."

Another pro-Corbyn member spoke out against Ryan: "Comrades, ask yourselves again, honestly, who is it that has really been sowing division and causing disruption? I'm afraid to say that it is our very own member of parliament (Joan Ryan) who is responsible for precisely that."

After hearing from the speakers, Ryan was allowed to address the membership. She tried to sway the vote in her favor, saying: "I have never called Jeremy Corbyn not to be our leader, I've never called for him to stand aside, and I've never said he was anti-Semitic."

"This idea that I go around attacking the leadership, that's not right," she added.

Ryan even tried quoting Nelson Mandela in an effort to save her from defeat: "When I was growing up the most important figure for me was Nelson Mandela (..) he said you can change the world you can make it a better place, you can make that difference with your own hands."

After the results were announced, members were filmed clapping and cheering at the news of Ryan's no confidence defeat.

The embattled MP took to Twitter after to vent her frustration at the defeat, slamming what she called "Trots Stalinists Communists" who had voted against her.

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