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Anti-Semitism row 'damaging Labour' - Sadiq Khan Anti-Semitism row 'smear against Labour' - Diane Abbott
(about 1 hour 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 shadow international development secretary Diane Abbott has defended Jeremy Corbyn's handling of claims of anti-Semitism within the party.
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. Ms Abbott, a long time ally of the Labour leader, said allegations of an anti-Semitism problem in Labour were a "smear" against ordinary party members.
The new Israeli ambassador to London said elements of left-wing parties were "in denial" about anti-Semitism. Unite leader Len McCluskey said the row was a "cynical attempt" to manipulate anti-Semitism for political means.
It comes after Mr Livingstone stood by his comments about Hitler and Zionism. It comes after Ken 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". The former London mayor was suspended from the party after saying Adolf Hitler had supported Zionism in the 1930s "before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews".
'Too many examples' Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Ms Abbott said Mr Livingstone's remarks had been "extremely offensive", but defended the party's handling of the row.
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". 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 Mr Livingstone who was suspended "within hours".
He said he wanted the party leadership to receive training on racism. "It's something of a smear against ordinary party members to say the party has a problem with anti-Semitism," she said, adding that many had spent "a lifetime fighting 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.
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 she would be "dismayed if some people were hurling around accusations of anti-Semitism as part of some intra-Labour Party dispute".
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". Mr McCluskey, general secretary of trade union Unite, dismissed the controversy as "mood music" being exploited by political enemies of Mr Corbyn.
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 Mr Corbyn's leadership. He claimed the row was "nothing more than a cynical attempt to manipulate anti-Semitism for political means" to challenge Mr Corbyn's leadership.
He insisted there was "no crisis" and said he had never heard anti-Semitic views being expressed in meetings. And he said the row had been "got up by the right-wing press aided and abetted by Labour MPs" and party grandees who "get out of their wheelchair and toss a few hand grenades in".
'Demonising Israel' 'Too many examples'
Meanwhile, Israel's new ambassador to Britain, Mark Regev, said language used in the past couple of weeks had been "very concerning". But Labour's candidate for Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, warned the row engulfing his party has harmed his chances of being elected.
People on the left of politics were "deluding themselves" if they presumed there was no problem, he said. Mr Khan told the Observer Mr Livingstone's comments had made it "more difficult" for Jewish voters to support him in next week's election.
"There's a difference between legitimate criticism and hate speech. The new Israeli ambassador to London said elements of left-wing parties were "deluding themselves" if they presumed there was no problem with anti-Semitism.
"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." Mark Regev said language used in the past couple of weeks had been "very concerning", and there was "a difference between legitimate criticism and hate speech".
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. Comments in the last few weeks had crossed from criticism of Israeli government policies to "demonising and a vilification of" 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. 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 was "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.