Chair of UK Jewish Labour Movement resigns over graft allegations

Jeremy Newmark is accused of billing the Jewish Leadership Council for personal expenses, including trips to Israel and leasing a BMW

By JTA 15 February 2018, 9:56 am

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Jeremy Newmark, chairman of the UK's Jewish Labour Movement and a former chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council (Courtesy)

The chairman of the Jewish Labour Movement in Britain has resigned over allegations of graft during his tenure as head of the Jewish Leadership Council.

Jeremy Newmark stepped down Friday to fight the allegations against him, which he has denied. The allegations contained in an internal report into his time as CEO of the Jewish Leadership Council were published last week by the London-based Jewish Chronicle.

Newmark headed the council from 2006 to 2013. He is accused of billing the council for a number of personal activities, including trips to Israel and leasing a BMW.

A councilman for the Borehamwood Kenilworth ward located outside of London, Newmark has called the allegations a “political smear.” The accusations do not relate to his work for the Jewish Labour Movement.

Britain’s Charity Commission has said it will investigate the allegations.