Mike Katz is standing down as national chair of the Jewish Labour Movement after deciding the demands of his new role as a government whip in the Lords left him without time to do both jobs.
Jewish News understands Lord Katz will email all JLM members later on Monday to confirm he has made the decision to resign as national chair, a role he has held since 2019, during the days of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party.
Current JLM vice-chair Ella Rose-Jacobs is understood to be about to appointed as acting as interim chair in the aftermath of Katz’s resignation.
Elections will then take place for a new national chair at JLM’s AGM in November.
Baroness Anderson, Mike Katz and Miriam Mirwitch at a JLM Chanukah event (pic Ian Vogler)
A popular figure as head of JLM, Katz is widely credited with ensuring that the movement has continued to grow in size under his leadership, with a younger generation of proud Jewish Labour activists now ready to step up in the organisation.
As national chair Katz won plaudits for his role in helping current Labour leader Keir Starmer with implementing the recommendations of the ground-breaking Equality and Human Rights Commission report, including training MPs, party staff and thousands of members.
He has remained close to the Labour leader and those around him.
It was no surprise to see the Prime Minister, and his wife Victoria shake hands with Katz outside Downing Street as they celebrated last July’s general election victory.
Keir Starmer shakes hands with Mike Katz
Starmer nominated Katz for a life peerage in December 2024 for the Labour Party as part of that year’s political peerages.
Created as Baron Katz, of Fortune Green in the Lords in January, Katz was rapidly made a government whip, playing a critical role in pushing through the government’s agenda in the Lords as a minister.
Taking over as JLM national chair in April 2019, as the group passed a motion of no confidence in Corbyn and warned of possible disaffiliation, Katz described some local parties as a “hostile environment” for Jews.
He added: “JLM is not going to be campaigning for anybody who has not stood up against antisemitism wherever they have seen it.”
Like many in JLM, Katz was a strong supporter of Starmer’s leadership of Labour, securing his presence at numerous JLM events.
Lord Katz, holding Siddur passed on to him by his parents, as he is introduced to the Lords
Katz previously served as a councillor in Camden from 2010 to 2014 and was the Labour parliamentary candidate for Hendon in 2017.
He is also a close ally of former JLM officials Adam Langleben and Peter Mason, who where also at the forfront of the organisation’s fight against Corbyn as Labour leader.
