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Anti-Semitism row 'damaging Labour' - Sadiq Khan | Anti-Semitism row 'damaging Labour' - Sadiq Khan |
(35 minutes later) | |
Labour's candidate for Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has warned that the anti-Semitism row engulfing his party has harmed his chances of being elected. | Labour's candidate for Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has warned that the anti-Semitism row engulfing his party has harmed his chances of being elected. |
Mr Khan said comments made by ex-London mayor Ken Livingstone had made it "more difficult" for Jewish voters to support him in next week's mayoral election. | Mr Khan said comments made by ex-London mayor Ken Livingstone had made it "more difficult" for Jewish voters to support him in next week's mayoral election. |
The new Israeli ambassador to London said elements of left-wing parties were "in denial" about anti-Semitism. | The new Israeli ambassador to London said elements of left-wing parties were "in denial" about anti-Semitism. |
It comes after Mr Livingstone stood by his comments about Hitler and Zionism. | It comes after Mr Livingstone stood by his comments about Hitler and Zionism. |
Mr Livingstone said Adolf Hitler had supported Zionism in the 1930s "before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews". | Mr Livingstone said Adolf Hitler had supported Zionism in the 1930s "before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews". |
'Too many examples' | 'Too many examples' |
Mr Khan told the Observer he accepted Mr Livingstone's comments about Hitler would make it harder for some people to feel the Labour Party was the "best place for them". | Mr Khan told the Observer he accepted Mr Livingstone's comments about Hitler would make it harder for some people to feel the Labour Party was the "best place for them". |
He said he wanted the party leadership to receive training on racism. | He said he wanted the party leadership to receive training on racism. |
"There are too many examples in our party of people having these views, and action does not appear to have been taken quickly enough," he said. | "There are too many examples in our party of people having these views, and action does not appear to have been taken quickly enough," he said. |
Asked if the controversy would affect his chances, the Labour MP for Tooting said: "Of course it does." | Asked if the controversy would affect his chances, the Labour MP for Tooting said: "Of course it does." |
Speaking on the BBC Andrew Marr show, shadow cabinet minister Diane Abbott said she took anti-Semitism "extremely seriously", but it was a "smear against ordinary party members" to suggest Labour had a problem with anti-Semitism. | |
What's the difference between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism? | What's the difference between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism? |
What is the Labour anti-Semitism row about? | What is the Labour anti-Semitism row about? |
Who is Ken Livingstone? | Who is Ken Livingstone? |
Ms Abbott, a long time ally of Mr Livingstone, said his remarks had been "extremely offensive", but defended the party's handling of the row. | |
She said there had been 12 reported cases of alleged anti-Semitism within the party since Jeremy Corbyn became leader and each had led to a suspension, including Ken Livingstone who was suspended "within hours". | |
Len McCluskey, general secretary of trade union Unite, claimed the row was "nothing more than a cynical attempt to manipulate anti-Semitism for political means" to challenge Jeremy Corbyn's leadership. | |
He insisted there was "no crisis" and said he had never heard anti-Semitic views being expressed in meetings. | |
'Demonising Israel' | |
Meanwhile, Israel's new ambassador to Britain, Mark Regev, said language used in the past couple of weeks had been "very concerning". | |
People on the left of politics were "deluding themselves" if they presumed there was no problem, he said. | People on the left of politics were "deluding themselves" if they presumed there was no problem, he said. |
"There's a difference between legitimate criticism and hate speech. | "There's a difference between legitimate criticism and hate speech. |
"And just as there's no justification for hating blacks or hating homosexuals, there's no justification for hating Jews and that is the red line that simply can't be crossed." | |
Comments in the last few weeks had crossed from criticism of Israeli government policies to "demonising and vilifying" the Jewish state and perpetuating racist stereotypes, he said. | |
Israel's Labour leader Isaac Herzog also said he had been "appalled and outraged by the recent examples of anti-Semitism by senior Labour Party officials". | Israel's Labour leader Isaac Herzog also said he had been "appalled and outraged by the recent examples of anti-Semitism by senior Labour Party officials". |
Mr Livingstone's comments were "horrific and unthinkable for a British politician in the 21st century", he added. | Mr Livingstone's comments were "horrific and unthinkable for a British politician in the 21st century", he added. |
'Telling the truth' | 'Telling the truth' |
The anti-Semitism row within the Labour Party erupted when Bradford West MP Naz Shah was suspended on Wednesday for comments she made about Israel. | The anti-Semitism row within the Labour Party erupted when Bradford West MP Naz Shah was suspended on Wednesday for comments she made about Israel. |
On Thursday, Mr Livingstone defended her in a BBC interview, saying that she was not anti-Semitic. | On Thursday, Mr Livingstone defended her in a BBC interview, saying that she was not anti-Semitic. |
He went on to say: "When Hitler won his election in 1932 his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel." | He went on to say: "When Hitler won his election in 1932 his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel." |
He was later confronted outside the BBC's studios by Labour MP John Mann, who accused him in front of TV cameras of being a "Nazi apologist". | He was later confronted outside the BBC's studios by Labour MP John Mann, who accused him in front of TV cameras of being a "Nazi apologist". |
Mr Livingstone was subsequently suspended but stood by his comments, saying he is "not sorry for telling the truth". | Mr Livingstone was subsequently suspended but stood by his comments, saying he is "not sorry for telling the truth". |
He blamed the row on "embittered Blairite MPs" seeking to scupper Labour's chances at the ballot box and prompt a leadership challenge. | He blamed the row on "embittered Blairite MPs" seeking to scupper Labour's chances at the ballot box and prompt a leadership challenge. |
Labour has said it will hold an independent inquiry into anti-Semitism and other forms of racism in its ranks, led by Shami Chakrabarti, the former head of human rights campaign group Liberty. | Labour has said it will hold an independent inquiry into anti-Semitism and other forms of racism in its ranks, led by Shami Chakrabarti, the former head of human rights campaign group Liberty. |
Find out more about who is standing in the London elections. | Find out more about who is standing in the London elections. |