Wolverhampton Council accused of attempting to appease hard-left by failing to adopt anti-Semitism definition

The city's Labour group, which makes up 50 of the council's 60 seats, does recognise the definition – but not the full council.

Councillor Roger Lawrence, the leader of the authority, says this is a mistake on his part as he was hoping to include it in a more broader scheme – which has so far not been implemented.

But he and his council have been accused by the Liberal Democrats in the city of a "half baked, half in half out effort to appease Momentum", which they describe as "appalling".

Chair Julian Donald said: "Anti-Semitism is the world’s oldest hatred and has no place in public life. If Labour councils like Birmingham can pass this why can't Wolverhampton?

“I see no reason why the council can’t adopt it. The Liberal Democrats will propose this motion if we are elected in May.

"It seems Labour have put avoiding a public split over doing what is right. The council's half baked, half in half out effort to appease Momentum is appalling."

But Councillor Lawrence has said there is no political motivation behind the failure to adopt the definition, instead insisting it is a mistake on his behalf.

He told the Express & Star: "I wanted to do a publication that would deal with a whole range of issues and not just anti-Semitism.

"The Labour group does adopt the definition but I wanted the council one to include prejudice against the Sikh community and Christians as well.

"You could adopt the definitions individually or as a collective. I wanted to do the latter but it just did not work. It is my fault and I hold my hands up."

Asked if the council would now adopt the IHRA definition on its own, Councillor Lawrence said that would be an issue for the next leader of the council to consider, as he is stepping down after the local elections on May 2.