Labour activist claims Jim Murphy blocked her election amid anti-Semitism row

The row over allegations of anti-Semitism on the left of the Labour Party has engulfed the constituency branch of former Scottish leader Jim Murphy.

Former Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy. Picture: Ian Rutherford

An activist standing for election to the party’s national executive has claimed her candidacy was blocked after a personal intervention from Mr Murphy.

Rhea Wolfson, 25, is seeking election to the executive on behalf of Momentum, the campaign group set up by supporters of Jeremy Corbyn.

Her candidacy was effectively vetoed by members of her own constituency Labour party in Eastwood after they refused to endorse her at a meeting on Tuesday.

She claimed that Mr Murphy, who represented the constituency at Westminster until 2015, argued against backing her over allegations of anti-Semitism against Momentum activists. Ms Wolfson is herself Jewish.

Nick Hopkins, the chair of the Eastwood constituency Labour Party, said the decision not to back Ms Wolfson was because party members were concerned about growing divisions within Labour between left-wing supporters of Mr Corbyn and other parts of the party.

Ms Wolfson had been seeking to replace Ken Livingston as the Momentum candidate for Labour national executive, after he was dropped following controversial comments about Hitler and Zionism.

Mr Murphy could not be reached for comment.