The long-running dispute in Britain's Labour Party over racism in its ranks is bubbling over again amid complaints that the party's new anti-Semitism code does not go far enough.
According to British media, Labour lawmakers are reportedly planning an extraordinary act of defiance against party leader Jeremy Corbyn and its National Executive Committee to force them to incorporate the full internationally accepted definition of anti-Semitism into Labour's official rulebooks.
The move was reportedly spurred by the NEC's refusal to set aside its controversial code of conduct on anti-Semitism, which many MPs say is far too lax.
On Tuesday, the National Executive Committee approved an amendment to the party's code of conduct on anti-Semitism, drawn up after protests by Jewish groups against Labour's handling of the issue.
While the code states that "anti-Semitism is racism. It is unacceptable in our party and in wider society," it fails to fully repeat the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism.
The IHRA's definition states that "anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities."
Labour MPs voted overwhelmingly on Monday for the full IHRA definition to be adopted but on Tuesday, the party's National Executive Committee essentially rubber-stamped only a watered-down amendment to its code of conduct.
The move has been widely criticized because the new code fails to incorporate all the examples of what constitutes anti-Semitism as listed in the IHRA definition.
The examples omitted by the NEC include accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel than their own nations, claiming that Israel's existence is a racist endeavor and comparing Israeli actions with those of the Nazis.
The omission sparked anger among Jewish organizations and some Labour MPs, but the NEC insisted that the same points were already covered elsewhere in the document.
Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth Ephraim Mirvis said Labour would be "on the wrong side" of the fight against racism unless it toughened up its position.
Faced with the backlash, Corbyn insisted Tuesday that Labour does not tolerate anti-Semitism "in any form whatsoever."
Challenged on the issue following a speech in Birmingham, Corbyn said: "Anti-Semitism is simply wrong in any circumstances whatsoever – it's not tolerated in any form whatsoever in my party and should not be tolerated in any form whatsoever within our society.
"We have adopted the definition by the IHRA and we've adopted most of the examples and put forward a very comprehensive and full code of conduct within the party, which has been approved by our National Executive Committee," he asserted.
"We are continuing to consult and discuss with the Jewish community and Jewish organizations to ensure it operates in the best way possible."
The NEC's move sparked considerable ire among Labour lawmakers.
According to The Observer, Labour members of the House of Lords plan to ask to vote when parliament returns in September on a motion to alter the Labour peers group's handbook so that instructs members to abide by the full IHRA definition of anti-Semitism.
Chairman of Labour members of the House of Lords Toby Harris said he was sure colleagues would share his "deep concern at the Labour party's failure fully to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism.
"Following consultation with the Labour Lords leadership … I will be proposing from the chair that we adopt the IHRA definition and its associated examples – unamended – into our rules," Harris said.
The emergency motion will be introduced by Jewish Labour MPs Louise Ellman and Ruth Smeeth. They are backed by MP Luciana Berger, parliamentary chair of the Jewish Labour Movement.
Berger said she expected the motion would be accepted for debate in parliament and voted upon when time allowed, as "its purpose is to demonstrate the strength of feeling in the parliamentary party. It is unfathomable that we find ourselves in this position as a party."
The Guardian reported that after the NEC decision, Labour Minister Margaret Hodge confronted Corbyn in the House of Commons and accused him of being "an anti-Semitic racist."
She is now facing a Labour disciplinary investigation.
Corbyn said Tuesday he had no "direct control" over the disciplinary procedures brought against Hodge.
