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Labour launches anti-Semitism guide for party members Labour: Shadow cabinet to discuss anti-Semitism criticisms
(about 16 hours later)
Labour has launched "education materials" to help its members confront anti-Semitism in the party. The shadow cabinet will hold a special meeting later to discuss how Labour has handled anti-Semitism claims.
Jeremy Corbyn said only a "small number" of Labour members held anti-Semitic views, but a larger number do not recognise stereotypes and conspiracy theories. The party says it has improved its procedures for dealing with allegations, but some believe the leadership has done too little.
Nine MPs and three peers have left Labour over its handling of anti-Semitism allegations among members. Labour peers are also set to consider calling for a no confidence vote in Mr Corbyn over the issue.
The shadow cabinet is due to discuss the issue at a meeting on Monday. The developments come as the party launched "education materials" to help members confront anti-Semitism.
In a letter to members, Mr Corbyn said the new material would be the first in a series on "a number of specific forms of racism and bigotry". Mr Corbyn - who will address his MPs at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday - said only a "small number" of members held anti-Semitic views, but a larger number did not recognise stereotypes and conspiracy theories.
In a letter to members, he said the new materials - which include a leaflet and website page - would be the first in a series on "a number of specific forms of racism and bigotry".
He said the scale of the problem within Labour had been exaggerated by "some of the media", but the party was "not immune" from the problem of anti-Jewish hatred.He said the scale of the problem within Labour had been exaggerated by "some of the media", but the party was "not immune" from the problem of anti-Jewish hatred.
The new party materials include a leaflet and website page on the history of anti-Semitism, Zionism, and anti-Jewish conspiracy theories.
"The worst cases of anti-Semitism in our party have included Holocaust denial, crude Jewish-banker stereotypes, conspiracy theories blaming Israel for 9/11 or every war on the Rothschild family", he said."The worst cases of anti-Semitism in our party have included Holocaust denial, crude Jewish-banker stereotypes, conspiracy theories blaming Israel for 9/11 or every war on the Rothschild family", he said.
"So please engage with the materials we are producing [...] so our movement can be the strongest anti-racist force in our country.""So please engage with the materials we are producing [...] so our movement can be the strongest anti-racist force in our country."
Also on Monday, Labour peers will consider a motion calling for a no-confidence vote in Mr Corbyn over his leadership on the anti-Semitism issue.
If passed, a ballot of all Labour peers will follow.
Earlier this month, the BBC's Panorama revealed claims from a number of former party officials that some of Mr Corbyn's closest allies tried to interfere in disciplinary processes involving allegations of anti-Semitism.Earlier this month, the BBC's Panorama revealed claims from a number of former party officials that some of Mr Corbyn's closest allies tried to interfere in disciplinary processes involving allegations of anti-Semitism.
As well as calls for an investigation into the claims made in the BBC programme, the Labour leadership is also under pressure to adopt an external complaints process, and automatically exclude members where there is "irrefutable evidence" of racism.As well as calls for an investigation into the claims made in the BBC programme, the Labour leadership is also under pressure to adopt an external complaints process, and automatically exclude members where there is "irrefutable evidence" of racism.
Ahead of the shadow cabinet meeting on Monday, the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) wrote to members urging them to show "real leadership" on the issue.Ahead of the shadow cabinet meeting on Monday, the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) wrote to members urging them to show "real leadership" on the issue.
"JLM, our supporters and the wider Jewish community despair at the lack of resolve, the repetition of worn words with no effort or intention to act.""JLM, our supporters and the wider Jewish community despair at the lack of resolve, the repetition of worn words with no effort or intention to act."
Labour has rejected claims of interference in its disciplinary processes and described the Panorama programme as "seriously inaccurate" and "politically one-sided".Labour has rejected claims of interference in its disciplinary processes and described the Panorama programme as "seriously inaccurate" and "politically one-sided".
In a statement, it said: "Since Jennie Formby became general secretary the rate at which anti-Semitism cases have been dealt with has increased more than four-fold.In a statement, it said: "Since Jennie Formby became general secretary the rate at which anti-Semitism cases have been dealt with has increased more than four-fold.
"We will build on the improvements to our procedures made under Jennie Formby, and continue to act against this repugnant form of racism.""We will build on the improvements to our procedures made under Jennie Formby, and continue to act against this repugnant form of racism."
'Bunker mentality'
Nine MPs and three peers have left Labour over its handling of anti-Semitism allegations among members.
Three MPs - John Mann, Ruth Smeeth and Wes Streeting - have written to the shadow cabinet arguing that some members "continue to labour under the delusion that complaints about our handling of anti-Semitism cases... are motivated by those with an axe to grind".
They say "too many members of the shadow cabinet have been silent bystanders to, or - worse still - actively complicit in" that narrative.
The MPs also accuse those around the leader of having "a bunker mentality" - echoing comments made by Baroness Hayter last week.
Baroness Hayter was fired from her role as shadow Brexit minister when she compared the leadership' team's refusal to acknowledge criticism to "the last days of Hitler".
Following her sacking, Labour members of the House of Lords are meeting to consider their next steps.
One option to be discussed is the possibility of holding a no confidence vote in Mr Corbyn - though this may not now happen until later this year.