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| Len McCluskey: Anti-Semitism row used to undermine Corbyn | Len McCluskey: Anti-Semitism row used to undermine Corbyn |
| (35 minutes 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. | 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". | 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". | 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. | 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". | Mr Corbyn told a May Day rally in London his party stood "absolutely against anti-Semitism in any form". |
| 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 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". |
| Speaking to John Pienaar on BBC Radio 5 live, Mr McCluskey said Labour had been right to suspend Mr Livingstone for his "bizarre" comments. | Speaking to John Pienaar on BBC Radio 5 live, Mr McCluskey said Labour had been right to suspend Mr Livingstone for his "bizarre" comments. |
| But he described the wider controversy as "mood music" being exploited by political enemies of Mr Corbyn. | But he described the wider controversy as "mood music" being exploited by political enemies of Mr Corbyn. |
| The Unite chief said the row had been "got up" by the right-wing press, "aided and abetted by those Labour MPs who wake up and think what stick can we beat Jeremy with?" | The Unite chief said the row had been "got up" by the right-wing press, "aided and abetted by those Labour MPs who wake up and think what stick can we beat Jeremy 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". | 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. | 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". | 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 members to say the party has a problem with anti-Semitism," she said. | "It's something of a smear against ordinary 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Speaking on the BBC's Sunday Politics, ex-minister Ben Bradshaw told the Sunday Politics members were "furious" at how the situation had been handled, and Labour MP Louise Ellman said the response had been "much too slow". | Speaking on the BBC's Sunday Politics, ex-minister Ben Bradshaw told the Sunday Politics members were "furious" at how the situation had been handled, and Labour MP Louise Ellman said the response 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. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World this Weekend, 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". | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World this Weekend, 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". |
| He called for the inquiry, led by former Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti, to be widened, and said he would not donate to the party nationally because of the leadership's approach. | He called for the inquiry, led by former Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti, to be widened, and said he would not donate to the party nationally because of the leadership's approach. |
| 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". |
| 'Telling the truth' | 'Telling the truth' |
| 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. |
| The anti-Semitism row erupted last week when Bradford West MP Naz Shah was suspended after sharing a Facebook post suggesting Israel should be moved to America. | |
| 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". |