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Len McCluskey: Anti-Semitism row used to undermine Corbyn | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A row about anti-Semitism is being used by Jeremy Corbyn's opponents within Labour to undermine his leadership, Unite chief Len McCluskey says. | |
Mr McCluskey, whose union is Labour's biggest donor, attacked a "cynical attempt to manipulate anti-Semitism for political aims". | |
Another Corbyn ally, Diane Abbott, said party members had been "smeared". | |
It comes after controversial comments by ex-mayor Ken Livingstone and MP Naz Shah saw both suspended from the party. | |
Mr Corbyn told a May Day rally in London his party stood "absolutely against anti-Semitism in any form". | |
Labour is holding an independent inquiry into anti-Semitism and other forms of racism in its ranks - but the leadership's response to the allegations has been criticised by some Labour MPs. | |
Ex-minister Ben Bradshaw told the Sunday Politics the issue had been allowed to "drag on". | |
Labour donor Michael Foster, who gave the party £400,000 before the general election where he also stood as a candidate, said some members of the party's leadership "vilify Jews as part of their political shtick". | |
'Mood music' | |
Mr Livingstone, 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". | |
Mr McCluskey dismissed the controversy as "mood music" being exploited by political enemies of Mr Corbyn. | |
Speaking to John Pienaar on BBC Radio 5 Live, he said Labour had been right to suspend Mr Livingstone for his "bizarre" comments. | |
But the Unite chief said the row had been "got up" by the right-wing press, "aided and abetted by those Labour MPs who seem to the first thing they do when they wake up of a morning is think of what stick can we beat Jeremy Corbyn with". | |
Mr McCluskey said he did not think there would be a formal leadership challenge to Mr Corbyn, but added that any MP "stupid enough to try" would have to "be accountable for their actions". | |
Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Ms Abbott, the shadow international development secretary, 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 Mr 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. | "It's something of a smear against ordinary party members to say the party has a problem with anti-Semitism," she said. |
But Labour's candidate for Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, warned the row engulfing his party had 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." |
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". |