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Anti-Semitism row 'smear against Labour' - Diane Abbott | Anti-Semitism row 'smear against Labour' - Diane Abbott |
(35 minutes later) | |
Labour shadow international development secretary Diane Abbott has defended Jeremy Corbyn's handling of claims of anti-Semitism within the party. | Labour shadow international development secretary Diane Abbott has defended Jeremy Corbyn's handling of claims of anti-Semitism within the party. |
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. | |
Unite leader Len McCluskey said the row was a "cynical attempt" to manipulate anti-Semitism for political means. | Unite leader Len McCluskey said the row was a "cynical attempt" to manipulate anti-Semitism for political means. |
It comes after Ken Livingstone stood by his comments about Hitler and Zionism. | It comes after Ken Livingstone stood by his comments about Hitler and Zionism. |
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". | 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". |
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. | 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. |
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". | 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". |
"It's something of a smear against ordinary party members to say the party has a problem with anti-Semitism," she said. | |
Speaking at a May Day rally in London, Mr Corbyn said Labour stood "absolutely against anti-Semitism in any form". | |
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? |
Mr McCluskey, general secretary of trade union Unite, dismissed the controversy as "mood music" being exploited by political enemies of Mr Corbyn. | Mr McCluskey, general secretary of trade union Unite, dismissed the controversy as "mood music" being exploited by political enemies of Mr Corbyn. |
He claimed 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". | |
'Too many examples' | 'Too many examples' |
But Labour's candidate for Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, warned the row engulfing his party has harmed his chances of being elected. | But Labour's candidate for Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, warned the row engulfing his party has harmed his chances of being elected. |
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. | 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. |
And Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside Louise Ellman, said Mr Corbyn's handling of the row had been "much too slow". | |
Ms Ellman, who is Jewish, said she had been subject to anti-Semitic abuse herself at a meeting of the local party. A complaint is being investigated. | |
Senior figures within Israeli politics also expressed their concerns about the party. | |
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. | 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. |
Mark Regev 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. | |
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 erupted last week when Bradford West MP Naz Shah was suspended over comments she had made about Israel. | |
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 was "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. |
Labour MP Ben Bradshaw said party members had been "furious" at how the situation had been handled, but Mr Corbyn had "finally gripped it this week with this inquiry". | |
He added that he was increasingly of the view that Ken Livingstone was a Conservative spy who had long been planted in the Labour party and "has now emerged to try to do as much damage as he possibly can to the Labour party". |