Difference between revisions of "Jon Lansman"
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| − | '''Jonathan Lansman''' | + | '''Jonathan Lansman''' <ref>{http://www.checkcompany.co.uk/director/9342987/JON-LANSMAN</ref> is a British [[Labour Party]] activist, who worked on [[Jeremy Corbyn]]'s successful 2015 campaign for the Labour party leadership, and subsequently founded the pro-Corbyn organisation [[Momentum]].<ref>''[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/151552/in-shadows-35-years-activist-now-gaining-momentum "In the shadows for 35 years, the activist now gaining momentum"]''</ref> |
In October 2017, Jon Lansman was reported to be running for one of three new places on Labour's [[National Executive Committee]] (NEC), which will expand the 36-strong body to 39 members and shift its current balance decisively in favour of [[Jeremy Corbyn]] and his supporters.<ref>''[http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/momentum-founder-jon-lansman-set-for-seat-on-labours-ruling-nec-insiders-claim_uk_59dbdb6be4b00377980b1422 "Momentum Founder Jon Lansman ‘Set To Run’ For Seat On Labour’s National Executive Committee"]''</ref> On 15 January 2018, Jon Lansman and the two other left slate candidates ([[Yasmine Dar]] and [[Rachel Garnham]]) were duly elected to the [[NEC]].<ref>''[https://twitter.com/jonlansman/status/952870325733285888 "Really honoured to now represent almost 600,000 members on the national executive of @UKLabour"]''</ref> | In October 2017, Jon Lansman was reported to be running for one of three new places on Labour's [[National Executive Committee]] (NEC), which will expand the 36-strong body to 39 members and shift its current balance decisively in favour of [[Jeremy Corbyn]] and his supporters.<ref>''[http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/momentum-founder-jon-lansman-set-for-seat-on-labours-ruling-nec-insiders-claim_uk_59dbdb6be4b00377980b1422 "Momentum Founder Jon Lansman ‘Set To Run’ For Seat On Labour’s National Executive Committee"]''</ref> On 15 January 2018, Jon Lansman and the two other left slate candidates ([[Yasmine Dar]] and [[Rachel Garnham]]) were duly elected to the [[NEC]].<ref>''[https://twitter.com/jonlansman/status/952870325733285888 "Really honoured to now represent almost 600,000 members on the national executive of @UKLabour"]''</ref> | ||
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==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
Jon Lansman was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family in Southgate, north [[London]]. He was a pupil at the independent Highgate School from 1970–75. He first visited [[Israel]] when he was 16: | Jon Lansman was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family in Southgate, north [[London]]. He was a pupil at the independent Highgate School from 1970–75. He first visited [[Israel]] when he was 16: | ||
| − | :"I worked on a kibbutz in the Negev and my aunt lived in Beersheba. It was actually a very politicising experience. When I did my bar mitzvah I saw myself as a [[Zionist]] and I think after I went there I felt it less. I was more interested in the kibbutz and what I liked about it was the pioneering spirit, the sense of community and radicalism of it."<ref> | + | :"I worked on a kibbutz in the Negev and my aunt lived in Beersheba. It was actually a very politicising experience. When I did my bar mitzvah I saw myself as a [[Zionist]] and I think after I went there I felt it less. I was more interested in the kibbutz and what I liked about it was the pioneering spirit, the sense of community and radicalism of it."<ref>http://www.thejc.com/lifestyle/interviews/152867/ex-kibbutznik-who-corbyn%E2%80%99s-left-hand-man-0</ref> |
He read for a degree in economics at Clare College (Cambridge), graduating in 1979. | He read for a degree in economics at Clare College (Cambridge), graduating in 1979. | ||
| Line 23: | Line 24: | ||
==Political career== | ==Political career== | ||
===Tony Benn supporter=== | ===Tony Benn supporter=== | ||
| − | During the [[Labour Party]]'s early years of opposition following the defeat of [[James Callaghan]]'s Labour government in 1979, Lansman worked as the "chief fixer" for [[Tony Benn]].<ref> | + | During the [[Labour Party]]'s early years of opposition following the defeat of [[James Callaghan]]'s Labour government in 1979, Lansman worked as the "chief fixer" for [[Tony Benn]].<ref>http://www.totalpolitics.com/print/4358/lessons-from-labours-wilderness-years.thtml|website=Total Politics</ref> He was a prominent member of the [[Campaign for Labour Party Democracy]] (CLPD) and worked with Benn on his campaign during the 1981 Labour Party deputy leadership election.<ref>Kogan, David; Kogan, Maurice (1982). The Battle for the Labour Party. Glasgow: Fontana. p. 41.</ref> He was also the Secretary of the Rank and File Mobilising Committee (RFMC), which was the primary campaigning organisation for Benn.<ref>Kogan, David; Kogan, Maurice (1982). The Battle for the Labour Party. Glasgow: Fontana. p. 108.</ref> In 1981, Lansman "did surprisingly badly" but was successful in his election to the [[Labour Co-ordinating Committee]].<ref>Kogan, David; Kogan, Maurice (1982). The Battle for the Labour Party. Glasgow: Fontana. p. 151. </ref> |
| − | During the campaign for the 1981 deputy leadership election, on [[ITV]]'s ''Weekend World'' discussion programme of 21 September, [[Denis Healey]] falsely accused Lansman of organising the severe heckling of speeches he had given in Cardiff and Birmingham. Lansman denied this was the case, as he had been in Spain during the Cardiff meeting and travelling to Aberystwyth during the Birmingham meeting.<ref> | + | During the campaign for the 1981 deputy leadership election, on [[ITV]]'s ''Weekend World'' discussion programme of 21 September, [[Denis Healey]] falsely accused Lansman of organising the severe heckling of speeches he had given in Cardiff and Birmingham. Lansman denied this was the case, as he had been in Spain during the Cardiff meeting and travelling to Aberystwyth during the Birmingham meeting.<ref>Kogan, David; Kogan, Maurice (1982). The Battle for the Labour Party. Glasgow: Fontana. pp. 112–113.</ref><ref>http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/151552/in-shadows-35-years-activist-now-gaining-momentum|</ref> Healey later apologised for his mistake.<ref>https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19810921&id=jsFAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3aUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3915,3766572&hl=en</ref> According to Lansman, the producers of ''Weekend World'', [[London Weekend Television]], accepted he had been slandered and made an out of court settlement.<ref>http://www.leftfutures.org/2015/10/remembering-denis-healey-the-good-the-bad-and-the-utterly-hilarious/</ref> |
| − | [[Mervyn Jones]] identified Lansman as part of a group on the left of the Labour Party that were "quite prepared to see a right-wing breakaway as the necessary cost of swinging the party in what they saw as the desired direction."<ref> | + | [[Mervyn Jones]] identified Lansman as part of a group on the left of the Labour Party that were "quite prepared to see a right-wing breakaway as the necessary cost of swinging the party in what they saw as the desired direction."<ref>Jones, Mervyn (1994). Michael Foot. London: Victor Gollancz. p. 445. ISBN 0575051973.</ref> Alongside Vladimir Derer and Victor Schonfield, Lansman was described as "unreservedly dedicated", with "no political ambitions of [his] own" and "in a position to work day and night for the cause without pay." |
Lansman subsequently worked as a researcher for [[Michael Meacher]]. | Lansman subsequently worked as a researcher for [[Michael Meacher]]. | ||
===Leadership of Jeremy Corbyn=== | ===Leadership of Jeremy Corbyn=== | ||
| − | Jon Lansman volunteered for [[Jeremy Corbyn]]'s leadership campaign in the 2015 Labour Party leadership election, and was the sole director of an Jeremy Corbyn Campaign 2015 (Supporters) Ltd, an official campaign company that held the data collected by the campaign.<ref> | + | Jon Lansman volunteered for [[Jeremy Corbyn]]'s leadership campaign in the 2015 Labour Party leadership election, and was the sole director of an Jeremy Corbyn Campaign 2015 (Supporters) Ltd, an official campaign company that held the data collected by the campaign.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33652205</ref> During the election, he was criticised for posting a link on [[Twitter]] to a [[Facebook]] page depicting rival candidate [[Liz Kendall]] as a future [[Leader of the Conservative Party]]. Lansman's comments were condemned by a Corbyn campaign spokesperson, who said: |
| − | :"Jon Lansman's tweets are not on behalf of the campaign. We discourage all Jeremy Corbyn supporters from joining in with spoof websites or social media."<ref> | + | :"Jon Lansman's tweets are not on behalf of the campaign. We discourage all Jeremy Corbyn supporters from joining in with spoof websites or social media."<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11761507/Jeremy-Corbyn-campaign-director-publishes-spoof-Tory-Liz-Kendall-picture.html</ref> |
| − | Following Corbyn's election on 12 September 2015, Lansman was a founder of the campaign group [[Momentum]].<ref> | + | Following Corbyn's election on 12 September 2015, Lansman was a founder of the campaign group [[Momentum]].<ref>http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/momentum-meeting-the-grassroots-political-movement-that-grew-out-of-jeremy-corbyn-s-leadership-a6764156.html</ref> Before the [[Labour Party Conference]] in late September 2015, Lansman was defeated by [[Michael Cashman]] and [[Gloria De Piero]] in an election for membership of the Conference Arrangements Committee, the body that sets the agenda for the Conference.<ref>http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3f509fb0-61fa-11e5-9846-de406ccb37f2.html</ref> Lansman is reported to be a supporter of mandatory reselection for Labour MPs.<ref>http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2015/10/who-will-labours-oldham-election-candidate-be</ref> On 23 October 2015, his company, Jeremy Corbyn Campaign 2015 (Supporters) Ltd, officially had its name changed to Momentum Campaign Ltd.<ref>https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/09655767/filing-history</ref> |
| − | In October 2015, he denied rumours that he was planning to stand to be the Labour Party candidate in Michael Meacher's constituency of Oldham West and Royton, which was due for a by-election following Meacher's death on 21 October.<ref> | + | In October 2015, he denied rumours that he was planning to stand to be the Labour Party candidate in Michael Meacher's constituency of Oldham West and Royton, which was due for a by-election following Meacher's death on 21 October.<ref>http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2015/10/labour-mps-are-worried-about-momentum-should-they-be</ref> |
==Labour, Israel, Palestinians and Jews== | ==Labour, Israel, Palestinians and Jews== | ||
| Line 44: | Line 45: | ||
At the end of April 2016, after long-standing Corbyn ally [[Ken Livingstone]] had made comments which led to his suspension from Labour Party membership, Lansman was quoted as saying: | At the end of April 2016, after long-standing Corbyn ally [[Ken Livingstone]] had made comments which led to his suspension from Labour Party membership, Lansman was quoted as saying: | ||
| − | :"A period of silence from Ken Livingstone is overdue, especially on [[antisemitism]], racism and [[Zionism]]. It’s time he left politics altogether."<ref> | + | :"A period of silence from Ken Livingstone is overdue, especially on [[antisemitism]], racism and [[Zionism]]. It’s time he left politics altogether."<ref>http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/apr/28/ken-livingstone-suspended-from-labour-after-hitler-remarks</ref> |
| − | A few days later, in early May, he wrote on the ''Left Futures'' blog that the use of the term Zionist to describe supporters of the government in Israel was "counter-productive".<ref>''[http://www.leftfutures.org/ "Left Futures"]''</ref> He cited one poll in which a larger majority of British Jews, 71%, favoured a Palestinian state, and 75% opposed the Israeli settlements, while only 68% identified as Zionists. A "rational debate about how to change the terms of the current debate" requires, in Lansman's opinion, an acknowledgement "that people on the left may also demonstrate some prejudice of their own."<ref> | + | A few days later, in early May, he wrote on the ''Left Futures'' blog that the use of the term Zionist to describe supporters of the government in Israel was "counter-productive".<ref>''[http://www.leftfutures.org/ "Left Futures"]''</ref> He cited one poll in which a larger majority of British Jews, 71%, favoured a Palestinian state, and 75% opposed the Israeli settlements, while only 68% identified as Zionists. A "rational debate about how to change the terms of the current debate" requires, in Lansman's opinion, an acknowledgement "that people on the left may also demonstrate some prejudice of their own."<ref>Cooper, Charlie (3 May 2016). Corbyn ally and Momentum founder tells Labour left to stop saying 'Zionists'. The Independent.</ref> |
==Private life== | ==Private life== | ||
Latest revision as of 07:01, 9 August 2021
 Jon Lansman    (Political activist) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 9 July 1957 Marylebone, London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Clare College (Cambridge) |
| Founder of | Momentum |
| Party | Labour Party |
British Labour Party activist, | |
Jonathan Lansman [1] is a British Labour Party activist, who worked on Jeremy Corbyn's successful 2015 campaign for the Labour party leadership, and subsequently founded the pro-Corbyn organisation Momentum.[2]
In October 2017, Jon Lansman was reported to be running for one of three new places on Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC), which will expand the 36-strong body to 39 members and shift its current balance decisively in favour of Jeremy Corbyn and his supporters.[3] On 15 January 2018, Jon Lansman and the two other left slate candidates (Yasmine Dar and Rachel Garnham) were duly elected to the NEC.[4]
Contents
Early life
Jon Lansman was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family in Southgate, north London. He was a pupil at the independent Highgate School from 1970–75. He first visited Israel when he was 16:
- "I worked on a kibbutz in the Negev and my aunt lived in Beersheba. It was actually a very politicising experience. When I did my bar mitzvah I saw myself as a Zionist and I think after I went there I felt it less. I was more interested in the kibbutz and what I liked about it was the pioneering spirit, the sense of community and radicalism of it."[5]
He read for a degree in economics at Clare College (Cambridge), graduating in 1979.
Political career
Tony Benn supporter
During the Labour Party's early years of opposition following the defeat of James Callaghan's Labour government in 1979, Lansman worked as the "chief fixer" for Tony Benn.[6] He was a prominent member of the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy (CLPD) and worked with Benn on his campaign during the 1981 Labour Party deputy leadership election.[7] He was also the Secretary of the Rank and File Mobilising Committee (RFMC), which was the primary campaigning organisation for Benn.[8] In 1981, Lansman "did surprisingly badly" but was successful in his election to the Labour Co-ordinating Committee.[9]
During the campaign for the 1981 deputy leadership election, on ITV's Weekend World discussion programme of 21 September, Denis Healey falsely accused Lansman of organising the severe heckling of speeches he had given in Cardiff and Birmingham. Lansman denied this was the case, as he had been in Spain during the Cardiff meeting and travelling to Aberystwyth during the Birmingham meeting.[10][11] Healey later apologised for his mistake.[12] According to Lansman, the producers of Weekend World, London Weekend Television, accepted he had been slandered and made an out of court settlement.[13]
Mervyn Jones identified Lansman as part of a group on the left of the Labour Party that were "quite prepared to see a right-wing breakaway as the necessary cost of swinging the party in what they saw as the desired direction."[14] Alongside Vladimir Derer and Victor Schonfield, Lansman was described as "unreservedly dedicated", with "no political ambitions of [his] own" and "in a position to work day and night for the cause without pay."
Lansman subsequently worked as a researcher for Michael Meacher.
Leadership of Jeremy Corbyn
Jon Lansman volunteered for Jeremy Corbyn's leadership campaign in the 2015 Labour Party leadership election, and was the sole director of an Jeremy Corbyn Campaign 2015 (Supporters) Ltd, an official campaign company that held the data collected by the campaign.[15] During the election, he was criticised for posting a link on Twitter to a Facebook page depicting rival candidate Liz Kendall as a future Leader of the Conservative Party. Lansman's comments were condemned by a Corbyn campaign spokesperson, who said:
- "Jon Lansman's tweets are not on behalf of the campaign. We discourage all Jeremy Corbyn supporters from joining in with spoof websites or social media."[16]
Following Corbyn's election on 12 September 2015, Lansman was a founder of the campaign group Momentum.[17] Before the Labour Party Conference in late September 2015, Lansman was defeated by Michael Cashman and Gloria De Piero in an election for membership of the Conference Arrangements Committee, the body that sets the agenda for the Conference.[18] Lansman is reported to be a supporter of mandatory reselection for Labour MPs.[19] On 23 October 2015, his company, Jeremy Corbyn Campaign 2015 (Supporters) Ltd, officially had its name changed to Momentum Campaign Ltd.[20]
In October 2015, he denied rumours that he was planning to stand to be the Labour Party candidate in Michael Meacher's constituency of Oldham West and Royton, which was due for a by-election following Meacher's death on 21 October.[21]
Labour, Israel, Palestinians and Jews
Lansman was interviewed by The Jewish Chronicle in January 2016. He was asked about attitudes to Israel in the Labour Party and the attitudes of Jews towards it: "Yes, of course the vast majority of British Jews are supportive of Israel as a Jewish state – and actually so is Jeremy – but they are far from supportive of all aspects of what is currently happening there", he said. "I think Jews in Britain want peace too. I think Jeremy's message of fairness for the Palestinians is not something that will be rejected by the Jewish community."
At the end of April 2016, after long-standing Corbyn ally Ken Livingstone had made comments which led to his suspension from Labour Party membership, Lansman was quoted as saying:
- "A period of silence from Ken Livingstone is overdue, especially on antisemitism, racism and Zionism. It’s time he left politics altogether."[22]
A few days later, in early May, he wrote on the Left Futures blog that the use of the term Zionist to describe supporters of the government in Israel was "counter-productive".[23] He cited one poll in which a larger majority of British Jews, 71%, favoured a Palestinian state, and 75% opposed the Israeli settlements, while only 68% identified as Zionists. A "rational debate about how to change the terms of the current debate" requires, in Lansman's opinion, an acknowledgement "that people on the left may also demonstrate some prejudice of their own."[24]
Private life
Lansman's wife, Beth, died of breast cancer in the late 1990s; the couple had three children. He is an atheist, although he still observes some Jewish festivals.
Related Documents
| Title | Type | Publication date | Author(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Document:The witchfinders are now ready to burn Corbyn | Blog post | 28 February 2019 | Jonathan Cook | Jeremy Corbyn’s allies are being picked off one by one, from grassroots activists like Jackie Walker and Marc Wadsworth to higher-placed supporters like Chris Williamson and Seumas Milne. Soon Corbyn will stand alone, exposed before the inquisition that has been prepared for him. |
| Document:This largely pointless EHRC investigation has been welcomed by Labour | Article | 28 May 2019 | John Spannyard Indaworks | "The upside of all this is that it may well lay to rest the continual Zionist refrain that Labour and Corbyn are an anti-Semitic party. What it is unlikely to do in my view is derail the Corbyn McDonnell project - it's just a bump in that particular road." |
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References
- ↑ {http://www.checkcompany.co.uk/director/9342987/JON-LANSMAN
- ↑ "In the shadows for 35 years, the activist now gaining momentum"
- ↑ "Momentum Founder Jon Lansman ‘Set To Run’ For Seat On Labour’s National Executive Committee"
- ↑ "Really honoured to now represent almost 600,000 members on the national executive of @UKLabour"
- ↑ http://www.thejc.com/lifestyle/interviews/152867/ex-kibbutznik-who-corbyn%E2%80%99s-left-hand-man-0
- ↑ http://www.totalpolitics.com/print/4358/lessons-from-labours-wilderness-years.thtml%7Cwebsite=Total Politics
- ↑ Kogan, David; Kogan, Maurice (1982). The Battle for the Labour Party. Glasgow: Fontana. p. 41.
- ↑ Kogan, David; Kogan, Maurice (1982). The Battle for the Labour Party. Glasgow: Fontana. p. 108.
- ↑ Kogan, David; Kogan, Maurice (1982). The Battle for the Labour Party. Glasgow: Fontana. p. 151.
- ↑ Kogan, David; Kogan, Maurice (1982). The Battle for the Labour Party. Glasgow: Fontana. pp. 112–113.
- ↑ http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/151552/in-shadows-35-years-activist-now-gaining-momentum%7C
- ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19810921&id=jsFAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3aUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3915,3766572&hl=en
- ↑ http://www.leftfutures.org/2015/10/remembering-denis-healey-the-good-the-bad-and-the-utterly-hilarious/
- ↑ Jones, Mervyn (1994). Michael Foot. London: Victor Gollancz. p. 445. ISBN 0575051973.
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33652205
- ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11761507/Jeremy-Corbyn-campaign-director-publishes-spoof-Tory-Liz-Kendall-picture.html
- ↑ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/momentum-meeting-the-grassroots-political-movement-that-grew-out-of-jeremy-corbyn-s-leadership-a6764156.html
- ↑ http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3f509fb0-61fa-11e5-9846-de406ccb37f2.html
- ↑ http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2015/10/who-will-labours-oldham-election-candidate-be
- ↑ https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/09655767/filing-history
- ↑ http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2015/10/labour-mps-are-worried-about-momentum-should-they-be
- ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/apr/28/ken-livingstone-suspended-from-labour-after-hitler-remarks
- ↑ "Left Futures"
- ↑ Cooper, Charlie (3 May 2016). Corbyn ally and Momentum founder tells Labour left to stop saying 'Zionists'. The Independent.
This page imported content from Wikipedia on 23 August 2016.Wikipedia is not affiliated with Wikispooks. Original page source here
