Difference between revisions of "Eric Moonman"

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'''Eric Moonman''' (born 29 April 1929, Liverpool) was a British Labour politician. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Billericay 1966-70 and Basildon 1974-9. Moonman was educated at Liverpool and Manchester Universities and became a senior research fellow in the Department of Management Science at Manchester University. He was a councillor on Stepney Borough Council, serving as Council Leader until 1965, and on the London Borough of Tower Hamlets from 1964. Moonman contested Chigwell in 1964 without success and was elected for Billericay in the 1966 general election, losing the seat four years later. He then was elected for Basildon at the February 1974 election, but again lost his seat at the 1979 general election. He later joined the [[Social Democratic Party]]. Since then, he has pursued an academic career, and has been associated with [[City University]], London and the [[University of Liverpool]].
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'''Eric Moonman''' (born 29 April 1929) is a former Labour MP, turned academic, broadcaster and Israel lobbyist. More recently he has emerged as a security and counter terrorism expert on UK commercial television and local press. He is invariably identified as a ‘terrorism expert’ without mention of his Zionist affiliations.
  
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=='hooligans'==
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== Early life ==
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:Youths imitated television film of violence in Northern Ireland when they rioted in more than 20 British cities last summer, according to a report out yesterday. But mass unemployment and racial discrimination were nonetheless the cause of the riots, the report said, contradicting Government assertions that they were mere acts of hooliganism.
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Eric Moonman was born in Liverpool on 29 April 1929 to Borach and Leah Moonman.<ref>''Debrett's People of Today'' (Debrett's Peerage Ltd, 2007)</ref>  He went to Rathbone School in Liverpool which he left at the age of 13 to start a seven-year apprenticeship at WJ Pugh Printers and then the ''Liverpool Echo''. <ref>Inprofile: Eric Moonman, [www.liv.ac.uk/insight/2004autumn.pdf "Insight" August 2004 Second Issue]</ref> After the war, Moonman undertook his national service in the Kings Liverpool Regiment from 1951 to 53, during which he took courses in military studies as well as evening classes in subjects such as public speaking. In 1954 got a place at the University of Liverpool to study for a Diploma in Social Science. At Liverpool he edited the University magazine and became chairman of the Labour Society. After graduating Moonman says he worked as a lecturer in Industrial Relations and Director of Management at SW Essex Technical College.<ref>Inprofile: Eric Moonman, [www.liv.ac.uk/insight/2004autumn.pdf| "Insight" August 2004 Second Issue]</ref>
  
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:The report by the [[Centre for Contemporary Studies]], an independent body which reviews social and political trends, said the youths wore masks and threw gasoline bombs at police, copying scenes of youths attacking security forces in Belfast. Eric Moonman, the centre's director and author of the report entitled Copy Cat Hooligans, said the rioters knew what to do because they had seen it on television.<ref>The Globe and Mail (Canada) October 27, 1981 Tuesday Rioters in U.K. imitated TV, report claims BYLINE: REUTERS</ref>
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== British Institute of Management ==
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In 1956 Moonman became a human relations advisor for the [[British Institute of Management]] (BIM)<ref>''Debrett's People of Today'' (Debrett's Peerage Ltd, 2007)</ref> – an organisation put together by a group of powerful British businessmen during the end of the Second World War. Whilst at the BIM Moonman became involved in local politics and served as leader of Stepney Council in East London from 1958 till 1962. In 1959 he was made a Fellow of BIM.<ref>''Debrett's People of Today'' (Debrett's Peerage Ltd, 2007)</ref>  
  
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==Learning from the Jews==
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During this time Moonman also studied for a Masters in Management Sciences at the Institute of Science and Technology at the University of Manchester. A contributor’s notes in a 1968 book edited by Moonman states that he was a senior research fellow there until 1966.<ref>contributor note in Eric Moonman and Jane Moonman, ''Science and technology in Europe''
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:The tactics employed by successive generations of Jews to seek advancement in spite of persistent anti-semitism suggested strategies for Britain's other ethnic minorities facing similar hostility, Professor Eric Moonman, senior vice-president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said. He called for synagogues and churches to devote time to considering ways of overcoming prejudice and to start talking to the ethnic communities.
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(Harmondsworth, Penguin, 1968)</ref>
  
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:Many ethnic minority leaders had already turned to the Jewish community for advice and information on how best to organise a political and communication system for themselves, he added. Drawing on his own experience as a Jew, and as one involved in public and social life, he said: 'The fact is, Britain is falling short in the implementation of equal opportunity practices. In employment, levels of racial discrimination remain unacceptably high, and recent research shows that only a small proportion of employers have adopted and implemented the full range of measures required to prevent it.'
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In his penultimate year at the [[British Institute of Management]], Moonman published ''The Manager and the Organisation'' (1961) a managerial handbook described by the journal ''International Socialism'' as ‘an unfortunate hotch potch’ with ‘no sociological value at all’.<ref>J.C. Stonebridge, [http://www.marxistsfr.org/history/etol/newspape/isj/1962/no010/stonebridge.htm ‘Managerisms’], ''International Socialism'', No.10, Autumn 1962, p.32</ref>
  
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:Professor Moonman was addressing representatives of minority communities at the first annual Roots Lecture, organised by the Roots of Culture Foundation, which aims to strengthen a sense of cultural identity among ethnic communities. He is a former MP who served on the commons select committee on immigration, and has been responsible for research into racism and soccer violence in his role as director of the Centre for Contemporary Studies.<ref>The Times September 11, 1990, Tuesday Look to Jewish example, racial minorities told BYLINE: By Ruth Gledhill, Religious Affairs Reporter SECTION: Home news</ref>
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== Political Career ==
 +
Moonman left the [[British Institute of Management]] in 1962 and in 1963 he became a member of the Tower Hamlets Council. He contested the constituency of Chigwell in 1964 without success, but was elected as Labour MP for Billericay in the 1966 general election. A contributor note in a 1968 book edited by Moonman describes him as ‘a former parliamentary private secretary to the Secretary of State for Education and Science’. In this role he was probably working with the influential Fabian [[Anthony Crosland]] who led the right-wing of the Labour Party at that time. By 1968 Moonman had become chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party’s committee on science and technology as well as a governor of Imperial College, London.<ref>contributor note in Eric Moonman and Jane Moonman, ''Science and technology in Europe''
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(Harmondsworth, Penguin, 1968)</ref>
  
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==Israel lobbyist==
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In the 1970 General Election Moonman lost his seat but was elected MP for Basildon at the February 1974 election when the Labour Party returned to power. He lost his seat again at the 1979 general election and in the 1980s he joined the [[Social Democratic Party]].
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Moonman is president of [[Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland]].<ref>[http://www.somethingjewish.co.uk/articles/1955_jc_editor_criticised.htm JC editor criticised] Jewish Telegraph Last Updated: 21 July 2006 (Accessed 2 January 2008)</ref> He is of the view that all 'Jewish' publications should support Israel: 'Zionist Federation president Eric Moonman warned that all Jewish publications should "be robust in their support for Israel"'.<ref>Jewish Telegraph, ibid.</ref>
 
  
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He was critical of Labour MP Tam Dalyell for his comments about the 'jewish' cabal of neoconservatives around Bush:
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== Israel lobbyist ==
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Moonman’s Israel lobbying activities go back at least to 1981. That year a broadcast by the Israeli ''Radio Peace and Progress'' (summarised by the BBC) referred to Moonman as one of several “leaders of the Zionist organizations in Britain”. The broadcast reported that Moonman had “explained his [opposition to Menachem Begin] in an article in the ''Jewish Chronicle'', wherein Moonman argued that: “We must support Israel, but we must give consideration to the image of the Israel which we support. It is clear that Israel's Western allies are less and less interested in supporting Begin's Israel.”<ref>SOURCE: Text of commentary ''Radio Peace and Progress'' in Hebrew 1800 gmt 4 Aug 81, BBC Summary of World Broadcasts 7 August 1981</ref> A 1986 report in ''The Guardian'' refers to Moonman as ‘chairman of the research committee of the [[Board of Deputies of British Jews]]’,<ref>Walter Schwarz, ‘25 per cent fewer Jews’, ''The Guardian'', 23 July 1986</ref> and Moonman’s profile in ''Debrett's People of Today'' states that that year he was appointed senior vice-president.<ref>''Debrett's People of Today'' (Debrett's Peerage Ltd, 2007)</ref> At this stage Moonman was also a board member of the [[British-Israel Public Affairs Committee]] (BIPAC) where he worked on a publication called ''EEC Monitor''. In 1987 however he was forced to resign from BIPAC after a financial scandal which he considered the result of a campaign against him. Below is an extract from ''The Guardian'' explaining the circumstances of Moonman’s departure from BIPAC:
  
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:Tam Dalyell, the veteran Labour MP and opponent of countless wars, faces an investigation for inciting racial hatred after he accused Tony Blair of being unduly influenced by Jewish ministers and officials. As leading British Jews criticised Mr Dalyell for his "misguided" remarks, a former Labour MP said he would refer the father of the Commons to the commission for racial equality. Professor Eric Moonman, president of the Zionist Federation, who was a Labour MP from 1966 to 1979, said he was seeking advice on whether there was a case for referral. "I believe there is," he said. "I will be distressed to do it because of a relationship with a man I admire enormously," Prof Moonman said. "But he made the statements and he knew what he was doing."<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2003/may/05/iraq.politics Dalyell may face race hatred inquiry] Nicholas Watt, political correspondent The Guardian, Monday May 5, 2003</ref>
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<blockquote style="background-color:beige;border:1pt solid Darkgoldenrod;padding:1%">An unusual advert has just appeared in the ''Jewish Chronicle'', asking anyone who knows about a campaign of malice against the former Labour MP Eric Moonman to send the information to a box number. It has been placed, of course, by Moonman himself, who is senior vice-president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, and chairman of the Islington Area Health Authority in London. Until recently he was also a board member of the British-Israel Public Affairs Committee (BIPAC), but he resigned at the last meeting following what might be called the Alexander Keddie Affair. Keddie doesn't actually exist, although he was
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once described as a recluse in Essex who didn't like taking phone calls; the name was simply used over a period of about four years to steer payments to a variety of people, including Moonman, who worked on a BIPAC publication called EEC Monitor. An accountant's report into the affair was prompted by Monty Sumary, a prominent Jewish businessman and fundraiser, and it concluded that Moonman had left people confused about the Keddie arrangement. Moonman denies this, and is now intent on unmasking his putative tormentors. 'I do think there is a campaign against me,' he said this week. 'There have been anonymous letters
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and phone calls as well.'”<ref>Stephen Cook, ‘People Diary’, ''The Guardian'', 9 October 1987</ref></blockquote>
  
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==Career==
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By 2001 Moonman had joined the [[Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland]]. In mid January 2002 the ''New Statesman'' reported that he headed the Zionist Federation’s Media Response Unit; organising email and letter writing campaigns against journalists perceived to be anti-Semitic or critical of Israel.<ref>Dennis Sewell, [http://www.newstatesman.com/200201140009 ‘A kosher conspiracy?’], "New Statesman", 14 January 2002</ref> A week after the publishing of that article, Moonman had reportedly become President of the organisation.<ref>Inigo Gilmore and Adam Lusher, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1382093/Harrods-incurs-Jewish-anger-by-removing-Israeli-goods.html ‘Harrods incurs Jewish anger by removing Israeli goods’], "Sunday Telegraph", 20 January 2002</ref>
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*circ 1964-6 London Councillor
 
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*1966-70 Member of Parliament (MP) for Billericay
 
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*1974-9 MP for Basildon
 
  
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==Affiliations==
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== Terrorism Expert ==
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[[Image:Moonman on Channel 4.JPG|400px|right|thumb|Moonman appears on Channel 4 News after the Glasgow Airport attacks next to a huge gas canister]]
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Moonman’s emergence as a terrorism expert seems to have stemmed from his involvement in an organisation called the [[Centre for Contemporary Studies]], a think-tank which published material on football hooliganism and race relations, as well as terrorism. The Centre appears to have been founded by Moonman who seems to have been affected by the Brixton riots and anxious about the possibility of societal breakdown. In writings he focused in particular on the influence of media and television. He published a report in 1981 on the riots that summer called Copycat Hooligans which argued that: “Youths imitated television film of violence in Northern Ireland when they rioted in more than 20 British cities last summer…Eric Moonman, the centre's director and author of the report entitled Copy Cat Hooligans, said the rioters knew what to do because they had seen it on television.<ref>Reuters, ‘Tuesday Rioters in U.K. imitated TV, report claims’, "The Globe and Mail", 27 October 1981</ref>
  
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*Chair, [[Academic Response Against Racism and Anti-Semitism in Europe]]<ref>The Times (London) November 1, 2003, Saturday Academic exclusion SECTION: Features; 31, From Professor Eric Moonman</ref>
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In 1987 Moonman published a book called ''The Violent Society'' which included contributions from prominent terrorologists [[Paul Wilkinson]] and [[Richard Clutterbuck]]. Paul Wilkinson was identified in the contributors notes as a member of the Advisory Board of the [[Centre for Contemporary Studies]]. <ref>[[Media:The_Violent_Society%2C_Notes_on_Contributors.JPG| Notes on Contributors]] in Eric Moonman, ''The Violent Society'' (London: Routledge, 1987)</ref> ''Insight'', the Alumni magazine for Liverpool University, wrote that ''The Violent Society'' ‘was well received and, surprisingly for Eric, marked another chapter in his life’. The article states that after the publication of ''The Violent Society'' Moonman ‘began to take on consultancy work for ITN as an expert in counter-terrorism’.<ref>Inprofile: Eric Moonman, [www.liv.ac.uk/insight/2004autumn.pdf| "Insight" August 2004 Second Issue]</ref>  
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*[[Association of Former Members of Parliament]], executive committee<ref>Yorkshire Evening Post, March 1, 2006 Sacked... in front of the TV millions? We can help, SOURCE: Yorkshire Evening Post</ref>
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*On the International research council of the [[International Center for Terrorism Studies]] within the [[Potomac Institute for Policy Studies]].
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In fact Moonman’s media presence as a terrorism expert does not seem to have taken off for some 15 years. The television archive [http://www.itnsource.com/en/Search/Advanced-Search/| ITV Source] contains only one item in the 1990s listing Moonman as a terrorism expert and the note does not contain an exact date. After what appears to be his first appearance as a terrorism expert on a Channel Five Lunchtime Bulletin on 18 July 2002, Moonman appeared dozens of times on UK television as a terrorism expert.
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*[[Stag FM]], director (owned by the [[Daily Mail and General Trust]]).<ref>[http://www.stagfm.co.uk/about.html Stag FM - Radio for Hertford]: Your Questions Answered, (Accessed: 2 January 2008)</ref>
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At some point after September 11th Moonman was appointed as a member of the Advsiory Board of the [[Centre for Counter Terrorism Studies]], Potomac Inst Washington.<ref>''Debrett's People of Today'' (Debrett's Peerage Ltd, 2007)</ref> 
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== City University ==
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Moonman took a degree in Medical Informatics at City University in London in 1989 and was subsequently appointed a Visiting Professor at the University.
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== Personal Life ==
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It was probably at BIM that Moonman met his first wife [[Jane Biran|Jane]]. She worked with Moonman at the [[British Institute of Management]] where she was research and information officer. Like Eric Moonman she later became involved in Zionist organisations. She edited the 1980 edition of ''The Zionist Yearbook'', published by the [[Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland]] and was affiliated with the [[British-Israel Public Affairs Committee]] (BIPAC) from at least 1987,<ref>Jane Moonman, ‘Letter: Those West Bank water statistics’, Manchester Guardian Weekly, 19 July 1987</ref> and was its Director in 1990.<ref>Virginia Myers, ‘London Israel Jamboree’, The Jerusalem Report, 20 December 1990</ref>
  
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==Publications==
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She divorced Moonman in the early 1990s and married Israel’s former ambassador to the UK Yoav Biran. She moved with her new husband to Jerusalem and was appointed as the Jerusalem Foundation's liaison with Britain.<ref>Greer Fay Cashman, ‘Chowing down with Bill and Hillary for a happy anniversary’, ''The Jerusalem Post'', 22 October 1993</ref>
  
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In February 2000 Moonman met City University alumna Gillian Mayer who gave a vote of thanks after a speech he gave in his home town of Southport. They married on 11 February 2001.
  
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*MOONMAN, Eric. ''The Manager & the Organization'', Tavistock, 1961. <ref>Source, unless otherwise stated: British Library [http://catalogue.bl.uk/F/4S7BAJGQRRCQX1G98PC4CEXN122D45X5DMHG2PFGB214LBF9RJ-36413?func=file&file_name=find-b&local_base=blac Integrated Catalogue], accessed 10 July 2008</ref>
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==Publications==
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*MOONMAN, Eric. ''The Manager & the Organization'', Tavistock, 1961. <ref>Source, unless otherwise stated: British Library [http://catalogue.bl.uk/F/4S7BAJGQRRCQX1G98PC4CEXN122D45X5DMHG2PFGB214LBF9RJ-36413?func=file&file_name=find-b&local_base=blac Integrated Catalogue], accessed 10 July 2008</ref>
 
*MOONMAN, Eric. ''Security of Employment''. pp. 14. [[Industrial Welfare Society]]: London, [1963.]
 
*MOONMAN, Eric. ''Security of Employment''. pp. 14. [[Industrial Welfare Society]]: London, [1963.]
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*MOONMAN, Eric. ''The Manager and the Organization'', pp. 220. Pan Books: London, 1965.
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*MOONMAN, Eric. ''The Manager and the Organization'', pp. 220. Pan Books: London, 1965.
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*MOONMAN, Eric. ''Science and technology in Europe''; edited by Eric Moonman; associate editor [[Jane Moonman]]. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1968.
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*MOONMAN, Eric. ''Science and technology in Europe''; edited by Eric Moonman; associate editor [[Jane Moonman]]. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1968.
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*MOONMAN, Eric. ''The communication of objectives in an expanding company''. London: [[Industrial Educational and Research Foundation]], [1969].pp. 24. 21 cm. (Research paper. no. 1.)
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*MOONMAN, Eric. ''The communication of objectives in an expanding company''. London: [[Industrial Educational and Research Foundation]], [1969].pp. 24. 21 cm. (Research paper. no. 1.)
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*MOONMAN, Eric. Communication in an expanding organization: a case study in action research. Tavistock Publications, 1970.
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*MOONMAN, Eric. Communication in an expanding organization: a case study in action research. Tavistock Publications, 1970.
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*MOONMAN, Eric. Reluctant partnership. A critical study of the relationship between government and industry. London: Gollancz, 1971.  
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*MOONMAN, Eric. Reluctant partnership. A critical study of the relationship between government and industry. London: Gollancz, 1971.  
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*MOONMAN, Eric. British computers and industrial innovation. The implications of the Parliamentary Select Committee. Edited by Eric Moonman. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1971. pp. xx, 126. 23 cm. Parliament. House of Commons. Committees. Select Committee on Science and Technology. Sub-Committee D. [Minutes of evidence.]
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*MOONMAN, Eric. British computers and industrial innovation. The implications of the Parliamentary Select Committee. Edited by Eric Moonman. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1971. pp. xx, 126. 23 cm. Parliament. House of Commons. Committees. Select Committee on Science and Technology. Sub-Committee D. [Minutes of evidence.]
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*Moonman, Eric. Business and the arts. Foundation for Business Responsibilities, 1974.
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*Moonman, Eric. Business and the arts. Foundation for Business Responsibilities, 1974.
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*Moonman, Eric. EEC policy in relation to the Middle East, Israel and matters concerning Jews : the twenty-first[[Selig Brodetsky]] memorial lecture, 1980.
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*Moonman, Eric. EEC policy in relation to the Middle East, Israel and matters concerning Jews : the twenty-first[[Selig Brodetsky]] memorial lecture, 1980.
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*Moonman, Eric. Copy-cat hooligans. 1981. Contemporary affairs briefing; [[Centre For Contemporary Studies]], 1981.vol 1 no 9  
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*Moonman, Eric. Copy-cat hooligans. 1981. Contemporary affairs briefing; [[Centre For Contemporary Studies]], 1981.vol 1 no 9  
 
*European Economic Community Policy in Relation to the Middle East, Israel and Matters Concerning Jews (Paperback) by Eric Moonman Paperback: 18 pages Publisher: Leeds University Press (Jan 1981) ISBN-10: 0853161259 ISBN-13: 978-0853161257<ref>http://www.amazon.co.uk/European-Economic-Community-Relation-Concerning/dp/0853161259/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215606524&sr=1-5</ref>
 
*European Economic Community Policy in Relation to the Middle East, Israel and Matters Concerning Jews (Paperback) by Eric Moonman Paperback: 18 pages Publisher: Leeds University Press (Jan 1981) ISBN-10: 0853161259 ISBN-13: 978-0853161257<ref>http://www.amazon.co.uk/European-Economic-Community-Relation-Concerning/dp/0853161259/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215606524&sr=1-5</ref>
 
*Stars of today : talking, living, working and playing together / edited by Eric Moonman. London : Centre for Contemporary Studies, [1986] [48]p. : ill., col.ports. ; 30cm.
 
*Stars of today : talking, living, working and playing together / edited by Eric Moonman. London : Centre for Contemporary Studies, [1986] [48]p. : ill., col.ports. ; 30cm.
 
*The Violent Society (Paperback) by Eric Moonman, Paperback: 167 pages, Publisher: Frank Cass Publishers (20 Jan 1987) ISBN-10: 0714640557 ISBN-13: 978-0714640556<ref>http://www.amazon.co.uk/Violent-Society-Eric-Moonman/dp/0714640557</ref>
 
*The Violent Society (Paperback) by Eric Moonman, Paperback: 167 pages, Publisher: Frank Cass Publishers (20 Jan 1987) ISBN-10: 0714640557 ISBN-13: 978-0714640556<ref>http://www.amazon.co.uk/Violent-Society-Eric-Moonman/dp/0714640557</ref>
  
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==Notes==
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== Affiliations ==
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*Chair, [[Academic Response Against Racism and Anti-Semitism in Europe]]<ref>The Times (London) November 1, 2003, Saturday Academic exclusion SECTION: Features; 31, From Professor Eric Moonman</ref>
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*[[Association of Former Members of Parliament]], executive committee<ref>Yorkshire Evening Post, March 1, 2006 Sacked... in front of the TV millions? We can help, SOURCE: Yorkshire Evening Post</ref>
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*On the International research council of the [[International Center for Terrorism Studies]] within the [[Potomac Institute for Policy Studies]].
 +
*[[Stag FM]], director (owned by the [[Daily Mail and General Trust]]).<ref>[http://www.stagfm.co.uk/about.html Stag FM - Radio for Hertford]: Your Questions Answered, (Accessed: 2 January 2008)</ref>
 +
 
 +
==Contact==
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:Tel: 020 7040 8369
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:Email: emoonman@soi.city.ac.uk
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 +
== Notes ==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  
 
[[Category:Terrorologist|Mooonman, Eric]][[Category:Israel Lobby|Moonman, Eric]]
 
[[Category:Terrorologist|Mooonman, Eric]][[Category:Israel Lobby|Moonman, Eric]]

Revision as of 15:49, 10 July 2008

Eric Moonman (born 29 April 1929) is a former Labour MP, turned academic, broadcaster and Israel lobbyist. More recently he has emerged as a security and counter terrorism expert on UK commercial television and local press. He is invariably identified as a ‘terrorism expert’ without mention of his Zionist affiliations.

Early life

Eric Moonman was born in Liverpool on 29 April 1929 to Borach and Leah Moonman.[1] He went to Rathbone School in Liverpool which he left at the age of 13 to start a seven-year apprenticeship at WJ Pugh Printers and then the Liverpool Echo. [2] After the war, Moonman undertook his national service in the Kings Liverpool Regiment from 1951 to 53, during which he took courses in military studies as well as evening classes in subjects such as public speaking. In 1954 got a place at the University of Liverpool to study for a Diploma in Social Science. At Liverpool he edited the University magazine and became chairman of the Labour Society. After graduating Moonman says he worked as a lecturer in Industrial Relations and Director of Management at SW Essex Technical College.[3]

British Institute of Management

In 1956 Moonman became a human relations advisor for the British Institute of Management (BIM)[4] – an organisation put together by a group of powerful British businessmen during the end of the Second World War. Whilst at the BIM Moonman became involved in local politics and served as leader of Stepney Council in East London from 1958 till 1962. In 1959 he was made a Fellow of BIM.[5]

During this time Moonman also studied for a Masters in Management Sciences at the Institute of Science and Technology at the University of Manchester. A contributor’s notes in a 1968 book edited by Moonman states that he was a senior research fellow there until 1966.[6]

In his penultimate year at the British Institute of Management, Moonman published The Manager and the Organisation (1961) a managerial handbook described by the journal International Socialism as ‘an unfortunate hotch potch’ with ‘no sociological value at all’.[7]

Political Career

Moonman left the British Institute of Management in 1962 and in 1963 he became a member of the Tower Hamlets Council. He contested the constituency of Chigwell in 1964 without success, but was elected as Labour MP for Billericay in the 1966 general election. A contributor note in a 1968 book edited by Moonman describes him as ‘a former parliamentary private secretary to the Secretary of State for Education and Science’. In this role he was probably working with the influential Fabian Anthony Crosland who led the right-wing of the Labour Party at that time. By 1968 Moonman had become chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party’s committee on science and technology as well as a governor of Imperial College, London.[8]

In the 1970 General Election Moonman lost his seat but was elected MP for Basildon at the February 1974 election when the Labour Party returned to power. He lost his seat again at the 1979 general election and in the 1980s he joined the Social Democratic Party.

Israel lobbyist

Moonman’s Israel lobbying activities go back at least to 1981. That year a broadcast by the Israeli Radio Peace and Progress (summarised by the BBC) referred to Moonman as one of several “leaders of the Zionist organizations in Britain”. The broadcast reported that Moonman had “explained his [opposition to Menachem Begin] in an article in the Jewish Chronicle, wherein Moonman argued that: “We must support Israel, but we must give consideration to the image of the Israel which we support. It is clear that Israel's Western allies are less and less interested in supporting Begin's Israel.”[9] A 1986 report in The Guardian refers to Moonman as ‘chairman of the research committee of the Board of Deputies of British Jews’,[10] and Moonman’s profile in Debrett's People of Today states that that year he was appointed senior vice-president.[11] At this stage Moonman was also a board member of the British-Israel Public Affairs Committee (BIPAC) where he worked on a publication called EEC Monitor. In 1987 however he was forced to resign from BIPAC after a financial scandal which he considered the result of a campaign against him. Below is an extract from The Guardian explaining the circumstances of Moonman’s departure from BIPAC:

An unusual advert has just appeared in the Jewish Chronicle, asking anyone who knows about a campaign of malice against the former Labour MP Eric Moonman to send the information to a box number. It has been placed, of course, by Moonman himself, who is senior vice-president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, and chairman of the Islington Area Health Authority in London. Until recently he was also a board member of the British-Israel Public Affairs Committee (BIPAC), but he resigned at the last meeting following what might be called the Alexander Keddie Affair. Keddie doesn't actually exist, although he was

once described as a recluse in Essex who didn't like taking phone calls; the name was simply used over a period of about four years to steer payments to a variety of people, including Moonman, who worked on a BIPAC publication called EEC Monitor. An accountant's report into the affair was prompted by Monty Sumary, a prominent Jewish businessman and fundraiser, and it concluded that Moonman had left people confused about the Keddie arrangement. Moonman denies this, and is now intent on unmasking his putative tormentors. 'I do think there is a campaign against me,' he said this week. 'There have been anonymous letters

and phone calls as well.'”[12]

By 2001 Moonman had joined the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland. In mid January 2002 the New Statesman reported that he headed the Zionist Federation’s Media Response Unit; organising email and letter writing campaigns against journalists perceived to be anti-Semitic or critical of Israel.[13] A week after the publishing of that article, Moonman had reportedly become President of the organisation.[14]

Terrorism Expert

Moonman appears on Channel 4 News after the Glasgow Airport attacks next to a huge gas canister

Moonman’s emergence as a terrorism expert seems to have stemmed from his involvement in an organisation called the Centre for Contemporary Studies, a think-tank which published material on football hooliganism and race relations, as well as terrorism. The Centre appears to have been founded by Moonman who seems to have been affected by the Brixton riots and anxious about the possibility of societal breakdown. In writings he focused in particular on the influence of media and television. He published a report in 1981 on the riots that summer called Copycat Hooligans which argued that: “Youths imitated television film of violence in Northern Ireland when they rioted in more than 20 British cities last summer…Eric Moonman, the centre's director and author of the report entitled Copy Cat Hooligans, said the rioters knew what to do because they had seen it on television.[15]

In 1987 Moonman published a book called The Violent Society which included contributions from prominent terrorologists Paul Wilkinson and Richard Clutterbuck. Paul Wilkinson was identified in the contributors notes as a member of the Advisory Board of the Centre for Contemporary Studies. [16] Insight, the Alumni magazine for Liverpool University, wrote that The Violent Society ‘was well received and, surprisingly for Eric, marked another chapter in his life’. The article states that after the publication of The Violent Society Moonman ‘began to take on consultancy work for ITN as an expert in counter-terrorism’.[17]

In fact Moonman’s media presence as a terrorism expert does not seem to have taken off for some 15 years. The television archive ITV Source contains only one item in the 1990s listing Moonman as a terrorism expert and the note does not contain an exact date. After what appears to be his first appearance as a terrorism expert on a Channel Five Lunchtime Bulletin on 18 July 2002, Moonman appeared dozens of times on UK television as a terrorism expert.

At some point after September 11th Moonman was appointed as a member of the Advsiory Board of the Centre for Counter Terrorism Studies, Potomac Inst Washington.[18]

City University

Moonman took a degree in Medical Informatics at City University in London in 1989 and was subsequently appointed a Visiting Professor at the University.

Personal Life

It was probably at BIM that Moonman met his first wife Jane. She worked with Moonman at the British Institute of Management where she was research and information officer. Like Eric Moonman she later became involved in Zionist organisations. She edited the 1980 edition of The Zionist Yearbook, published by the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland and was affiliated with the British-Israel Public Affairs Committee (BIPAC) from at least 1987,[19] and was its Director in 1990.[20]

She divorced Moonman in the early 1990s and married Israel’s former ambassador to the UK Yoav Biran. She moved with her new husband to Jerusalem and was appointed as the Jerusalem Foundation's liaison with Britain.[21]

In February 2000 Moonman met City University alumna Gillian Mayer who gave a vote of thanks after a speech he gave in his home town of Southport. They married on 11 February 2001.

Publications

  • MOONMAN, Eric. The Manager & the Organization, Tavistock, 1961. [22]
  • MOONMAN, Eric. Security of Employment. pp. 14. Industrial Welfare Society: London, [1963.]
  • MOONMAN, Eric. The Manager and the Organization, pp. 220. Pan Books: London, 1965.
  • MOONMAN, Eric. Science and technology in Europe; edited by Eric Moonman; associate editor Jane Moonman. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1968.
  • MOONMAN, Eric. The communication of objectives in an expanding company. London: Industrial Educational and Research Foundation, [1969].pp. 24. 21 cm. (Research paper. no. 1.)
  • MOONMAN, Eric. Communication in an expanding organization: a case study in action research. Tavistock Publications, 1970.
  • MOONMAN, Eric. Reluctant partnership. A critical study of the relationship between government and industry. London: Gollancz, 1971.
  • MOONMAN, Eric. British computers and industrial innovation. The implications of the Parliamentary Select Committee. Edited by Eric Moonman. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1971. pp. xx, 126. 23 cm. Parliament. House of Commons. Committees. Select Committee on Science and Technology. Sub-Committee D. [Minutes of evidence.]
  • Moonman, Eric. Business and the arts. Foundation for Business Responsibilities, 1974.
  • Moonman, Eric. EEC policy in relation to the Middle East, Israel and matters concerning Jews : the twenty-firstSelig Brodetsky memorial lecture, 1980.
  • Moonman, Eric. Copy-cat hooligans. 1981. Contemporary affairs briefing; Centre For Contemporary Studies, 1981.vol 1 no 9
  • European Economic Community Policy in Relation to the Middle East, Israel and Matters Concerning Jews (Paperback) by Eric Moonman Paperback: 18 pages Publisher: Leeds University Press (Jan 1981) ISBN-10: 0853161259 ISBN-13: 978-0853161257[23]
  • Stars of today : talking, living, working and playing together / edited by Eric Moonman. London : Centre for Contemporary Studies, [1986] [48]p. : ill., col.ports. ; 30cm.
  • The Violent Society (Paperback) by Eric Moonman, Paperback: 167 pages, Publisher: Frank Cass Publishers (20 Jan 1987) ISBN-10: 0714640557 ISBN-13: 978-0714640556[24]

Affiliations

Contact

Tel: 020 7040 8369
Email: emoonman@soi.city.ac.uk

Notes

  1. ↑ Debrett's People of Today (Debrett's Peerage Ltd, 2007)
  2. ↑ Inprofile: Eric Moonman, [www.liv.ac.uk/insight/2004autumn.pdf "Insight" August 2004 Second Issue]
  3. ↑ Inprofile: Eric Moonman, [www.liv.ac.uk/insight/2004autumn.pdf| "Insight" August 2004 Second Issue]
  4. ↑ Debrett's People of Today (Debrett's Peerage Ltd, 2007)
  5. ↑ Debrett's People of Today (Debrett's Peerage Ltd, 2007)
  6. ↑ contributor note in Eric Moonman and Jane Moonman, Science and technology in Europe (Harmondsworth, Penguin, 1968)
  7. ↑ J.C. Stonebridge, ‘Managerisms’, International Socialism, No.10, Autumn 1962, p.32
  8. ↑ contributor note in Eric Moonman and Jane Moonman, Science and technology in Europe (Harmondsworth, Penguin, 1968)
  9. ↑ SOURCE: Text of commentary Radio Peace and Progress in Hebrew 1800 gmt 4 Aug 81, BBC Summary of World Broadcasts 7 August 1981
  10. ↑ Walter Schwarz, ‘25 per cent fewer Jews’, The Guardian, 23 July 1986
  11. ↑ Debrett's People of Today (Debrett's Peerage Ltd, 2007)
  12. ↑ Stephen Cook, ‘People Diary’, The Guardian, 9 October 1987
  13. ↑ Dennis Sewell, ‘A kosher conspiracy?’, "New Statesman", 14 January 2002
  14. ↑ Inigo Gilmore and Adam Lusher, ‘Harrods incurs Jewish anger by removing Israeli goods’, "Sunday Telegraph", 20 January 2002
  15. ↑ Reuters, ‘Tuesday Rioters in U.K. imitated TV, report claims’, "The Globe and Mail", 27 October 1981
  16. ↑ Notes on Contributors in Eric Moonman, The Violent Society (London: Routledge, 1987)
  17. ↑ Inprofile: Eric Moonman, [www.liv.ac.uk/insight/2004autumn.pdf| "Insight" August 2004 Second Issue]
  18. ↑ Debrett's People of Today (Debrett's Peerage Ltd, 2007)
  19. ↑ Jane Moonman, ‘Letter: Those West Bank water statistics’, Manchester Guardian Weekly, 19 July 1987
  20. ↑ Virginia Myers, ‘London Israel Jamboree’, The Jerusalem Report, 20 December 1990
  21. ↑ Greer Fay Cashman, ‘Chowing down with Bill and Hillary for a happy anniversary’, The Jerusalem Post, 22 October 1993
  22. ↑ Source, unless otherwise stated: British Library Integrated Catalogue, accessed 10 July 2008
  23. ↑ http://www.amazon.co.uk/European-Economic-Community-Relation-Concerning/dp/0853161259/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215606524&sr=1-5
  24. ↑ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Violent-Society-Eric-Moonman/dp/0714640557
  25. ↑ The Times (London) November 1, 2003, Saturday Academic exclusion SECTION: Features; 31, From Professor Eric Moonman
  26. ↑ Yorkshire Evening Post, March 1, 2006 Sacked... in front of the TV millions? We can help, SOURCE: Yorkshire Evening Post
  27. ↑ Stag FM - Radio for Hertford: Your Questions Answered, (Accessed: 2 January 2008)
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