Fighting the Labour left was worth it to get Ellman and Berger back in the party says business secretary

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said that the factional fight against Corbynism was worth it because it resulted in Jewish former MPs returning to the party.

Speaking on Monday evening to a Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) Chanukah reception in a central London Synagogue, Reynolds told the 150-strong crowd: “Many of you were directly involved in the fact that we had to wrestle, literally wrestle, control of the Labour Party machine back in order to do the right thing.”

He spoke about attending “nine and 10-hour meetings” on the Labour Party’s governing body, the National Executive Committee and sub-committee meetings to ensure moderates had control over the party apparatus.

The Business and Trade Secretary then shared an anecdote about Labour left members of the NEC attempting to stage a walkout of a key meeting, adding “it was on Zoom, and they couldn’t find the ‘leave’ button”, to an eruption of laughter from the audience.

Reynolds said he would “do every single minute of those meetings again in a heartbeat, not just because that meant a Labour victory and a Labour government, but because it meant a Labour victory in Barnet and Bury. Because it meant people like Luciana Berger and Louise Ellman back in the Labor Party. Where they belong.”

Speaking to the JC after the event, Reynolds was asked whether the Labour government’s decision to suspend some arms sales to Israel had made engaging with the Jewish community more difficult and said “what we have chosen there in terms of what's in the scope of those restrictions is the right balance”.

But said that he had the “ambition” to secure a free trade agreement with Israel.

JLM also heard from Finchley and Golders Green MP Sarah Sackman, who last week was appointed Justice Minister.

She paid tribute to JLM members and their campaigning during the general election and praised Jewish students for “confronting antisemitism on campus” in the wake of CST statistics showing record levels of antisemitism at universities.

“The resilience that you are showing, the leadership that you are showing, is vital, and you need to know that you that we have all of your backs in government, here at JLM”, she said, adding: “and any support that we can offer in the months going forward, as we tackle this scourge, you have it, so stay strong. Stay resilient. Keep your heads held high.”

The Finchley MP also spoke of her admiration for Mandy Damari, mother of 28-year-old Emily who is being held hostage by Hamas, who she met last week.

“The bravery and resilience of that woman and so many of the hostage families is something to behold in the face of some of the worst psychological, personal torture that one can imagine”, the Justice Minister told the room.

Those sentiments were echoed by co-leader of Progressive Judaism Rabbi Charley Baginsky who told the audience: “As we celebrate Chanukah, our hearts will remain heavy for those impacted by war in Gaza, for the hostages still waiting for freedom, for lives lost and for families grieving unimaginable losses”.

The reception was attended by communal figures including Board of Deputies president Phil Rosenberg and the Jewish Leadership Council’s public affairs director Russel Langer.

JLM national chair Mike Katz, who revealed that one in five of Labour MPs were either members or allies, told the JC he was delighted about how it went: “For the first time in 15 years, our Chanukah celebration was joined by government ministers – even better that one was Jewish!

He continued: “It was great to be able to reflect on the positives of Labour winning power, in the context of a very difficult year for our community, facing record levels of antisemitism and remember the plight of the hostages still captive in Gaza. The Business Secretary heard us loud and clear on the importance of the government not resting on either issue.”