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Labour anti-Semitism row: Jeremy Corbyn to launch inquiry Labour anti-Semitism row: Jeremy Corbyn to launch inquiry
(about 9 hours later)
Jeremy Corbyn is to hold an independent inquiry into anti-Semitism and other forms of racism in the Labour Party.Jeremy Corbyn is to hold an independent inquiry into anti-Semitism and other forms of racism in the Labour Party.
The inquiry, led by Shami Chakrabarti, former head of campaign group Liberty, will consult with the Jewish community and other minority groups, Labour said.The inquiry, led by Shami Chakrabarti, former head of campaign group Liberty, will consult with the Jewish community and other minority groups, Labour said.
Mr Corbyn will also propose a new "code of conduct" on racism at Labour's national executive committee in May.Mr Corbyn will also propose a new "code of conduct" on racism at Labour's national executive committee in May.
It comes after the party suspended MP Naz Shah and ex-London mayor Ken Livingstone amid anti-Semitism claims.It comes after the party suspended MP Naz Shah and ex-London mayor Ken Livingstone amid anti-Semitism claims.
The code of conduct will include guidance on "acceptable behaviour and use of language", Labour said.The code of conduct will include guidance on "acceptable behaviour and use of language", Labour said.
It will make "explicitly clear for the first time that Labour will not tolerate any form of racism, including anti-Semitism, in the party", a statement said.It will make "explicitly clear for the first time that Labour will not tolerate any form of racism, including anti-Semitism, in the party", a statement said.
The inquiry's vice-chairman will be Professor David Feldman, director of the Pears Institute for the Study of Anti-Semitism.The inquiry's vice-chairman will be Professor David Feldman, director of the Pears Institute for the Study of Anti-Semitism.
The inquiry, which will report in two months, will set out "clear and transparent" rules on how the party should deal with allegations of racism and anti-Semitism.The inquiry, which will report in two months, will set out "clear and transparent" rules on how the party should deal with allegations of racism and anti-Semitism.
It will also propose training programmes for parliamentary candidates, MPs, councillors and others, Labour said.It will also propose training programmes for parliamentary candidates, MPs, councillors and others, Labour said.
Anti-Semitism and ZionismAnti-Semitism and Zionism
What's the difference between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism?What's the difference between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism?
Q&A: Labour anti-Semitism rowQ&A: Labour anti-Semitism row
BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said Jeremy Corbyn would be hoping the announcement would "calm what was now a very angry, volatile atmosphere within his party".BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said Jeremy Corbyn would be hoping the announcement would "calm what was now a very angry, volatile atmosphere within his party".
Mr Corbyn said Labour was an anti-racist party "to its core", and the Jewish community had been at the heart of the Labour party and progressive politics in Britain for more than 100 years.Mr Corbyn said Labour was an anti-racist party "to its core", and the Jewish community had been at the heart of the Labour party and progressive politics in Britain for more than 100 years.
"There is no place for anti-Semitism or any form of racism in the Labour party, or anywhere in society, and we will make sure that our party is a welcoming home to members of all communities," he said."There is no place for anti-Semitism or any form of racism in the Labour party, or anywhere in society, and we will make sure that our party is a welcoming home to members of all communities," he said.
The Labour leader, who insisted on Thursday there was "no crisis" over anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, said he had taken "decisive action" over any such allegations since he became leader.The Labour leader, who insisted on Thursday there was "no crisis" over anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, said he had taken "decisive action" over any such allegations since he became leader.
The row, which comes less than a week before local elections in England, and for the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, exploded on Thursday when Mr Livingstone claimed Hitler supported Zionism "before he went mad".The row, which comes less than a week before local elections in England, and for the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, exploded on Thursday when Mr Livingstone claimed Hitler supported Zionism "before he went mad".
He made the comments in an interview with BBC Radio London, in which he defended Ms Shah, the party's MP for Bradford West.He made the comments in an interview with BBC Radio London, in which he defended Ms Shah, the party's MP for Bradford West.
AnalysisAnalysis
By John Peinaar, BBC deputy political editorBy John Peinaar, BBC deputy political editor
There will be those Labour MPs who welcome the inquiry as measurable progress, but will it satisfy Jeremy Corbyn's most committed critics? No it won't.There will be those Labour MPs who welcome the inquiry as measurable progress, but will it satisfy Jeremy Corbyn's most committed critics? No it won't.
They don't trust his instincts. They remember him sharing platforms in the past with militants from Hamas, or from Iran.They don't trust his instincts. They remember him sharing platforms in the past with militants from Hamas, or from Iran.
They resent the fact he draws support from some far-left individuals and groups who have been associated with anti-Semitism in the past.They resent the fact he draws support from some far-left individuals and groups who have been associated with anti-Semitism in the past.
More fundamentally, this is just one component of a charge sheet for them that touches on Jeremy Corbyn's pure left instincts and his basic competence.More fundamentally, this is just one component of a charge sheet for them that touches on Jeremy Corbyn's pure left instincts and his basic competence.
The tension beneath the surface between these rival groups in the Labour Party borders and crosses over into hatred.The tension beneath the surface between these rival groups in the Labour Party borders and crosses over into hatred.
It will come to the surface after the local and national elections next week and will likely boil over when the European referendum is settled one way or another in June.It will come to the surface after the local and national elections next week and will likely boil over when the European referendum is settled one way or another in June.
Ms Shah was suspended on Wednesday over comments on Facebook, including a suggestion that Israel should be moved to the United States. She later apologised.Ms Shah was suspended on Wednesday over comments on Facebook, including a suggestion that Israel should be moved to the United States. She later apologised.
In the interview, Mr Livingstone said: "When Hitler won his election in 1932 his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel. He was supporting Zionism before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews."In the interview, Mr Livingstone said: "When Hitler won his election in 1932 his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel. He was supporting Zionism before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews."
'Nazi apologist''Nazi apologist'
He was later confronted outside the BBC's studios by Labour MP John Mann, who accused him of being a "Nazi apologist" in front of TV cameras. Other Labour MPs also condemned Mr Livingstone's comments.He was later confronted outside the BBC's studios by Labour MP John Mann, who accused him of being a "Nazi apologist" in front of TV cameras. Other Labour MPs also condemned Mr Livingstone's comments.
Speaking on Radio 4's Any Questions on Friday Jonathan Ashworth, a member of Labour's shadow cabinet, said Mr Livingstone's comments were "deeply offensive, it was vile".Speaking on Radio 4's Any Questions on Friday Jonathan Ashworth, a member of Labour's shadow cabinet, said Mr Livingstone's comments were "deeply offensive, it was vile".
Mr Livingstone was suspended by Mr Corbyn, who said there had been "grave concerns" about the language used.Mr Livingstone was suspended by Mr Corbyn, who said there had been "grave concerns" about the language used.
On Friday, he told Sky News he would make his case citing a book by controversial American Marxist historian Lenni Brenner, who he met in the 1980s. Anushka Asthana, political editor at the Guardian, who was following Mr Corbyn for an interview on the day the row erupted, told the BBC the Labour leader tried to carry on with his planned visits before advisors made it clear he needed to take action.
"It was obviously quite a difficult thing for him to do... he is an old friend of Ken Livingstone," she said.
"[Labour] had to set up this inquiry because of all the questions, but there is a reluctance, I think, among the inner circle to accept that all of this is around anti-Semitism. But they have to shut this down. There is fury throughout the party."
On Friday, Mr Livingstone told Sky News he would make his case citing a book by controversial American Marxist historian Lenni Brenner, who he met in the 1980s.
"I'll just produce the evidence and I mean it's hard for somebody to decide to suspend me from the party here when all this was there 30 years ago in the public domain and nobody raised a peep," he said."I'll just produce the evidence and I mean it's hard for somebody to decide to suspend me from the party here when all this was there 30 years ago in the public domain and nobody raised a peep," he said.