Peter Willsman was applauded by Momentum activists as he turned up for the NEC gathering at the party's HQ. But a group of Jewish protesters angrily chanted ‘shame on you’.
Mr Willsman was re-elected to the NEC yesterday with more than 70,000 votes despite his diatribe in July, when he accused critics of 'making up' complaints about anti-Semitism.
Labour is on the verge of all-out civil war today with at least three more MPs believed to be ready to quit if the NEC refuses to adopt the full international definition of anti-Semitism - or tries to add caveats to water it down.
The bitter showdown is the culmination of months of clashes between the leadership, moderate MPs and Jewish groups.
Mr Willsman refused to answer questions on his remarks or whether he would back adopting the IHRA definition.
The latest controversy was sparked over the summer when the party stopped short of including all examples from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism in its code of conduct.
Left-wingers argued that the rules - which include banning jibes about the Israeli state being a racist endeavour - would hamper criticism of Israel.
But many MPs and Jewish groups view watering down the definition as totally unacceptable, and Mr Corbyn himself has been forced to deny being an anti-Semite.
Mr Corbyn is facing demands to show 'remorse' for his failure to tackle the wave of vile abuse that has been wracking the party since he took charge.
Senior backbencher John Mann warned today that British Jews are leaving as a result of the controversy.
'That is where we have got to, and it is a lack of leadership at the top of the Labour Party, not just, but including Jeremy Corbyn, and this appalling national executive who have... tried to mess around with a very humdrum, mundane definition of anti-Semitism that left (wing) parties across the world have been happy to accept along with everyone else,' he told ITV's Good Morning Britain.
Why is Labour's new code of conduct on anti-Semitism so controversial?
The Labour anti-Semitism row erupted again after the party leadership refused to fully adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition.
The party's code explicitly endorses the IHRA definition, but it omits four examples from the IHRA list:
- Accusing Jewish people of being more loyal to Israel than their home country;
- Claiming that Israel's existence as a state is a racist endeavour;
- Requiring higher standards of behaviour from Israel than other nations; and
- Comparing contemporary Israeli policies to those of the Nazis.
Labour insisted that while the examples are not reproduced word-for-word, they are covered in the new code.
But critics say the decision allows anti-Semitism to continue to fester.
'We are now seeing the first British Jewish people leaving, that is the state we are in, that is the responsibility of the Labour Party. 'It's not a small problem, it's a big problem and it needs sorting now.'
Stephen Kinnock urged Mr Corbyn to show 'remorse' over the problems.
'We need to see Jeremy coming forward in his conference speech, particularly, which will be a real opportunity to show remorse for what has happened, to show understanding of the pain and hurt that has been suffered both by my colleagues - particularly Jewish colleagues in the Parliamentary Labour Party - and the wider Jewish community,' he said.
There is speculation that three or more MPs could follow Frank Field in resigning the Labour whip if the NEC either refuses to adopt the definition in full, or tries to add caveats.
Backbencher Rosie Duffield has warned Labour politicians could go on strike.
The parliamentary Labour party will vote on the same definition tomorrow amid continuing pressure on Jeremy Corbyn over the party's anti-Semitism crisis.
Mr Willsman, who will now serve another two years on the NEC, said his job was to support his 'friend for 41 years' Mr Corbyn - who he called 'Jerry'.
He said critics were trying to undermine the Labour leader and 'some MPs, elected by Labour voters, seem willing to help the rich and powerful'.
Amanda Bowman, vice president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said Mr Willsman's election following his 'reprehensible comments' was 'deeply concerning'.
His success came despite the influential Momentum campaign group withdrawing its support for him following the 'deeply insensitive' comments about Jews.
In an angry rant at a meeting of Labour's ruling executive committee in July, he accused Jewish 'Trump fanatics' of 'making up duff information' to attack Mr Corbyn.
Mr Willsman won 70,321 votes to claim the ninth and last spot on the committee. Yasmine Dar was first in the election with 88,176 votes.
All nine winners are close supporters of Mr Corbyn. They all had the backing of Momentum, the Corbyn support group, at the start of the election campaign, before Mr Willsman was dropped from the slate.
Comedian Eddie Izzard was the best placed loser, finishing tenth with 67,819 votes.
MailOnline
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