The Labour Party is understood to be investigating comments from a Wirral councillor which followed a report into how antisemitism was handled.
Cllr Jo Bird, who represents Bromborough, spoke in a video published last week which discussed a report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) into anti-semitism within the Labour Party.
The damning EHRC report detailed "specific examples of harassment, discrimination and political interference", but also noted "a lack of leadership within the Labour Party on these issues", which it said was "hard to reconcile with its stated commitment to a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism".
The EHRC "uncovered serious failings" in the way complaints were handled, until at least 2018, during which Jeremy Corbyn was Labour leader.
Reacting to the report at the end of last month, Mr Corbyn said Jewish Labour members were right to expect the party to deal with anti-semitism “and I regret that it took longer to deliver that change than it should."
But he added: “The scale of the problem was also dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents inside and outside the party”.
He has since been suspended from the party over his reaction to the report.
Cllr Bird, who is Jewish, responded to the report in the video, stating: “In Jeremy’s case, the evidence confirms what the twice elected leader of the Labour Party said, ‘One anti-semite is one too many, but the scale of the problem was also dramatically overstated for political reasons’.
“The [EHRC’s report] also agrees with our human right to say this [in page 27]. The Labour leadership have commented publicly on the EHRC report and an individual case. If they can do it, then so can we!
“Jeremy Corbyn should be reinstated, without further ado.”
She added: “I’m speaking in a personal capacity. I am a Jewish woman. My Jewish great grandparents fled fascism in Europe and my grandad’s cousins perished in the Holocaust.
“I have experienced warmth and welcome at almost all levels of the Labour party. 46,000 members voted for me in the NEC (National Executive Committee, Labour’s ruling body) by-elections earlier this year. Thank you very much!”
Cllr Bird, who was elected to her Bromborough seat in August 2018, also said: “As a Jew, I worry about racism against Jewish people.
“I also worry about privileging the racism faced by Jewish communities in this country, as more worthy of resources than other forms of discrimination such as against Black people, Palestinians, Muslims and refugees.
“Abuses of power are measured in detentions, deportations and deaths. Privileging one group over another group is divisive. It’s bad for the many, as well as bad for the Jews.”
Cllr Bird has been suspended on two previous occasions by the Labour Party, in March 2019 and February 2020.
Although it is not known what Cllr Bird’s most recent suspension was for, her suspension in March 2019 was for making a joke about 'Jew process'.
Cllr Bird was allowed to return to the party on both occasions.
She said: “Injustice continues in the same vein with my own suspensions in March 2019 and February this year, Jeremy Corbyn's suspension (at the end of last month) and many, many others.
“I was suspended whilst a leading candidate for NEC by-elections. I was reinstated 8 days later, because thousands of people spoke out, moved motions and voted – and an NEC panel found that my behaviour ‘did not amount to a breach of the Party’s Rules’.”
The Labour councillor elaborated on her opinion about the EHRC report. Cllr Bird said: “I've read the whole EHRC report and I wept with rage.
“The Labour Party complaints system is so broken that the EHRC found it to be unlawful under the Equalities Act.
“The EHRC report vindicates what Jewish Voice for Labour have consistently said (Chapter 6, EHRC): that many victims have been mistreated by this system - everyone making complaints as well as members complained against.
“I am so sorry for the hurt and offence that so many people have been put through by the Labour Party.
Find out what's going on in your area by adding your postcode below
“There should be no place for injustice in our Labour Party.”
A Labour Party spokesperson said: "The Labour Party takes all complaints of antisemitism extremely seriously and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures, and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken."
