Update: Paul Flynn has now apologised for his comments.
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The Labour MP who suggested Matthew Gould was an inappropriate British ambassador to Israel, because he was Jewish, should start preparing for his “retirement”, said the chair of the All-party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism.
Paul Flynn, who represents the Newport West constituency, suggested this week that Britain’s first Jewish envoy to Israel had divided loyalties and that the position should be filled by “someone with roots in the UK”.
His remarks were heavily criticised by the Foreign Office and MPs from across the political spectrum.
John Mann, the chair of the group on antisemitism, said he was in no doubt “that when candidates are selected for parliamentary constituencies under new boundaries that Paul Flynn will be summarily retired”.
Mr Mann, also a Labour MP, added: “I suggest he starts his retirement with a workers’ education course on understanding racism, its language and its impact.”
This story is a cross post of an article which appeared here. Robert Halfon MP, a member of the APPGAA, has written a piece on the incident here, Rt Hon Denis MacShane MP here and John Mann MP here. There are other stories here and here.
Meanwhile, Denis MacShane MP, chair of the All-Party Inquiry into Antisemitism, has raised this issue in the house and here is the transcript of Paul Flynn’s comments in committee.
