Breaking News: Chair of Warwick Labour, Fraser Amos, embroiled in new scandal after retweeting antisemitic tweet

The Chair of Warwick Labour, Fraser Amos, who was previously involved in a homophobia scandal by denying it was homophobic to say you can't be gay and right-of-centre politically, has now involved himself in an antisemitism scandal.

Whilst Warwick Labour have acknowledged incidents of antisemitism in the national party and taken a pro-active stance in wanting it routed out (Though according to an anonymous source, these positions taken by Warwick Labour were passed by razor thin majorities in the executive of the society, at times by just a single vote). The Chair of Warwick Labour, Fraser Amos, recently retweeted a tweet suggesting that ‘The establishment of Israel was a racist endeavour…'.

Tweet that was retweeted by Warwick Labour Chair, Fraser Amos.

The wording of that tweet is highly troubling considering that one of the examples given by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) for antisemitism is ‘Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.’. To most observers, the tweet that was retweeted by Fraser Amos would be considered a literal textbook example of antisemitism according to the IHRA.

Examples given by the IHRA of antisemitism

The retweet by Amos has received criticism from former Warwick Labour Online Communications Officer, Jack Hogg, who asked 'Why is the chair of Warwick Labour endorsing the idea of Israel as a “racist endeavour”? Doesn’t this break the party’s code on antisemitism?'.

Criticism by Former Warwick Labour Online Communications Officer, Jack Hogg.

Fraser Amos, in response to this direct criticism, said that it is "Nice to see you're trying to police Jewish journalists like Eleanor Penny's legitimate views on Israel. Stuff like this undermines the fight against anti-semitism in the party, it's disgusting.".

In the Eye’s view, the tweet and subsequent retweet clearly constitutes antisemitism according to the IHRA's definition. The tweet and the aforementioned example of antisemitism by the IHRA are almost the same word-for-word. And whilst the previous scandal of homophobia involving Fraser was swept under the rug by the Warwick Student’s Union. We find it hard to believe the same can be done this time considering the Student’s Union has already accepted the IHRA’s definition of antisemitism in full.

By The Warwick Eye