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Jeremy Corbyn rejects call to suspend Naz Shah over Israel posts Jeremy Corbyn rejects call to suspend Naz Shah over Israel posts
(35 minutes later)
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has rejected calls from the shadow energy secretary, Lisa Nandy, to suspend the backbench MP Naz Shah over antisemitic posts on social media.The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has rejected calls from the shadow energy secretary, Lisa Nandy, to suspend the backbench MP Naz Shah over antisemitic posts on social media.
Nandy told the BBC’s Daily Politics programme that she believed Labour should “suspend anybody who makes antisemitic comments, in line with our policy, and investigate it.”Nandy told the BBC’s Daily Politics programme that she believed Labour should “suspend anybody who makes antisemitic comments, in line with our policy, and investigate it.”
But in a statement released shortly before he faced David Cameron at prime minister’s questions, Corbyn said he had accepted the “fulsome” apology of the Bradford West MP.But in a statement released shortly before he faced David Cameron at prime minister’s questions, Corbyn said he had accepted the “fulsome” apology of the Bradford West MP.
Related: Labour and the left have an antisemitism problem | Jonathan Freedland
Corbyn said: “What Naz Shah did was offensive and unacceptable. I have spoken to her and made this clear. These are historic social media posts made before she was a member of parliament. Naz has issued a fulsome apology. She does not hold these views and accepts she was completely wrong to have made these posts.”Corbyn said: “What Naz Shah did was offensive and unacceptable. I have spoken to her and made this clear. These are historic social media posts made before she was a member of parliament. Naz has issued a fulsome apology. She does not hold these views and accepts she was completely wrong to have made these posts.”
He added: “The Labour party is implacably opposed to antisemitism and all forms of racism.”He added: “The Labour party is implacably opposed to antisemitism and all forms of racism.”
Cameron seized on Shah’s case in the Commons, saying it was “quite extraordinary” that an MP who appeared to have suggested Israelis should be deported to the US could continue to receive the Labour whip.Cameron seized on Shah’s case in the Commons, saying it was “quite extraordinary” that an MP who appeared to have suggested Israelis should be deported to the US could continue to receive the Labour whip.
Following prime minister’s questions, a No 10 aide said: “If the Labour party had a shred of decency she would be immediately suspended..Jeremy Corbyn shd be ashamed of himself.”
Corbyn’s spokesman said it was possible the National Executive Committee could suspend and investigate Shah but he stressed that the leader had made a choice not to remove the whip.
Repeatedly pressed about why Shah was not being suspended, he said the comments were antisemitic but the MP had “shocked herself” and did not mean what she said, so she could not be described as antisemitic.
Shah has apologised for the posts, and on Tuesday she stepped down as the parliamentary private secretary to the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell.Shah has apologised for the posts, and on Tuesday she stepped down as the parliamentary private secretary to the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell.
She wrote a further apology published by Jewish News on Wednesday, saying: “The manner and tone of what I wrote in haste is not excusable. With the understanding of the issues I have now I would never have posted them. I have to own up to the fact that ignorance is not a defence.
“The language I used was wrong. It is hurtful. What’s important is the impact these posts have had on other people. I understand that referring to Israel and Hitler as I did is deeply offensive to Jewish people for which I apologise.”
In a number of social media posts before she became an MP, Shah said Israel should “relocate to the US” and posted an article that likened Zionism to al-Qaida.In a number of social media posts before she became an MP, Shah said Israel should “relocate to the US” and posted an article that likened Zionism to al-Qaida.
She shared a picture of Israel’s outline superimposed on to a map of the US under the headline: “Solution for Israel-Palestine Conflict – Relocate Israel into United States,” along with the comment: “Problem solved.”She shared a picture of Israel’s outline superimposed on to a map of the US under the headline: “Solution for Israel-Palestine Conflict – Relocate Israel into United States,” along with the comment: “Problem solved.”
The post went on to say Americans would “welcome Israelis with open arms”, and the relocation would bring peace to the Middle East by ending “foreign interference”. The post suggested the US had “plenty of land” to accommodate Israel as a 51st state, allowing Palestinians to “get their life and their land back”.The post went on to say Americans would “welcome Israelis with open arms”, and the relocation would bring peace to the Middle East by ending “foreign interference”. The post suggested the US had “plenty of land” to accommodate Israel as a 51st state, allowing Palestinians to “get their life and their land back”.
Alongside the post, Shah added a smiley-face emoji and suggested she would lobby the prime minister to adopt the plan.Alongside the post, Shah added a smiley-face emoji and suggested she would lobby the prime minister to adopt the plan.
A series of incidents in recent months have raised concerns among some in the Labour party about whether it has been tough enough in combating antisemitism.A series of incidents in recent months have raised concerns among some in the Labour party about whether it has been tough enough in combating antisemitism.
Nandy said on Wednesday: “We have a policy that people who make antisemitic remarks are suspended and an investigation carried out … and the policy ought to be followed without any exception.”Nandy said on Wednesday: “We have a policy that people who make antisemitic remarks are suspended and an investigation carried out … and the policy ought to be followed without any exception.”
She said she had made her view known to the leader’s office, and Corbyn was “handling it personally, which is right as the leader of the Labour party.”She said she had made her view known to the leader’s office, and Corbyn was “handling it personally, which is right as the leader of the Labour party.”