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Diane Abbott: 'It’s a smear to say Labour has anti​​semitism problem' Diane Abbott: 'It’s a smear to say Labour has anti​​semitism problem'
(about 3 hours later)
One of Jeremy Corbyn’s closest allies has dismissed claims that Labour has a problem with antisemitism in a move that could further stoke the row engulfing the party. Jeremy Corbyn faced further calls for a tougher crackdown on antisemitism within Labour on Sunday after one of his allies dismissed the crisis as a “smear” against the party and its members.
Diane Abbott, the shadow international development secretary, said that to say there was a problem across the party was a smear, and that instead the problem lay within Labour’s rules, which will be corrected. Diane Abbott, the shadow international development secretary, dismissed claims that the party had a problem with antisemitism, provoking fresh criticism of the Labour leadership.
She suggested the problem was procedural and instead lay within Labour’s rules governing antisemitic and other racist comments, which she said would be corrected following a review of the party’s guidelines.
“Every single claim of antisemitism – I think 12 – has resulted in a suspension. Ken was suspended within hours. That is 12 allegations when 200,000 [new members] have joined the party,” Abbott said.
“It’s a smear to say that Labour has a problem with antisemitism. It is something like a smear against ordinary party members.”
Her comments, made of the BBC’s Andrew Marr show on Sunday morning, was followed by more Labour MPs and one major party donor criticising the leadership’s response to repeated claims of antisemitism.
On Friday, Corbyn suspended Ken Livingstone from the party and announced an independent inquiry into antisemitism in Labour, to be led by Shami Chakrabarti, the former head of Liberty.On Friday, Corbyn suspended Ken Livingstone from the party and announced an independent inquiry into antisemitism in Labour, to be led by Shami Chakrabarti, the former head of Liberty.
It follows incendiary comments in which the former London mayor appeared to claim that Adolf Hitler, whose regime was responsible for the deaths of six million Jews, was a Zionist. It follows incendiary comments by the former London mayor that appeared to claim that Adolf Hitler, whose regime was responsible for the deaths of six million Jews, supported Zionism.
Appearing on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC1 on Sunday, Abbott said she would not accept the view that there was a problem within a small but significant section of the party. “Every single claim of antisemitism – I think 12 – has resulted in a suspension. Ken was suspended within hours. That is 12 allegations when 200,000 [new members] have joined the party,” she said. Livingstone has refused to apologise to the Jewish community for the comments. He said this weekend the row was not about antisemitism but rather a plot by “embittered old Blairite MPs” to destabilise Corbyn’s leadership.
“Ken’s remarks were extremely offensive. He was suspended within hours, there is going to be an investigation and the party will decide what happens to him.” In a heated exchange over the party’s response to the comments, Marr challenged Abbott to explain why, if Labour had no broader problem with antisemitism, the leader had announced an inquiry into the issue.
Marr pointed out that many colleagues would find it outrageous if Livingstone were allowed to return. Abbott said: “Ken will have due process just like anybody else. It’s a smear to say that Labour has a problem with antisemitism. It is something like a smear against ordinary party members,” she said. The shadow minister implied that the problem was with the rules of the party: “There are issues about process. There is nothing in the rules about racism, antisemitism and Islamophobia. We are going to make the rules explicit.”
Corbyn later reaffirmed his pledge to rid the party of all forms of racism. Speaking at a May Day rally in London, the Labour leader said the party “stands absolutely against racism in any form”. He said: “We stand united as a Labour movement recognising our faith diversity, our ethnic diversity, and from that diversity comes up strength.”
Related: Ken Livingstone blames 'embittered Blairite MPs' for antisemitism rowRelated: Ken Livingstone blames 'embittered Blairite MPs' for antisemitism row
Marr said: “If you haven’t got a problem, why have you set up an inquiry to look into it?” However, Labour donor Michael Foster, who gave the party £400,000 before the general election in which he also stood as a candidate, said some members of the party’s leadership continued to “vilify Jews as part of their political shtick”.
Abbott implied that the problem was with the rules of the party: “There are issues about process. There is nothing in the rules about racism, antisemitism and Islamophobia. We are going to make the rules explicit.” He called for the Chakrabarti inquiry to be widened, and said on BBC Radio 4’s The World this Weekend he would not donate to the party nationally because of the leadership’s approach.
Marr asked: “So it’s not a problem? It is a process thing?” Meanwhile, many others within the parliamentary party remained dismayed at the response from the Abbott following John McDonnell’s more contrite comments on Saturday. Ben Bradshaw, the former culture minister, said Labour members were “furious” at how allegations of antisemitism had been handled.
“Antisemitism is a problem across Europe,” said Abbott. “You are saying that because there have been 12 incidents online that the party is antisemitic?” “I’m increasingly of the view that Ken Livingstone is a Conservative party spy who’s been planted in the Labour party and has been sleeping and has now emerged to try to do as much damage as he possibly can.
Meanwhile, Corbyn reaffirmed his pledge to rid the party of all forms of racism. Speaking at a May Day rally in London, the Labour leader said the party “stands absolutely against racism in any form”. “And that’s certainly the view of my loyal Labour party members and activists and voters who came up to me all day yesterday saying what is going on; they were outraged by his comments. If he comes back into the party they won’t vote for our party. It’s a really serious issue,” he said.
He said: “We stand united as a Labour movement recognising our faith diversity, our ethnic diversity, and from that diversity comes up strength.” Louise Ellman, the Jewish MP for Liverpool Riverside, said the response had been “much too slow”. The party is investigating a complaint that she has been subject to antisemitic abuse at a meeting of the local party.
Livingstone has refused to apologise to the Jewish community after his comments. He said the row was not about antisemitism but a plot by “embittered old Blairite MPs”.
Abbott added that if Corbyn were challenged in a second leadership election, he would definitely win because of the strength of support he enjoys from members.
Len McCluskey, the head of Britain’s biggest union, Unite, criticised Livingstone and backed his suspension. However, he said: “This is nothing more than a cynical attempt to manipulate antisemitism for political ends because it is all about constantly challenging Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.”Len McCluskey, the head of Britain’s biggest union, Unite, criticised Livingstone and backed his suspension. However, he said: “This is nothing more than a cynical attempt to manipulate antisemitism for political ends because it is all about constantly challenging Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.”
McCluskey, whose union is the party’s biggest donor, said: “The idea that there is an antisemitic crisis within the Labour party is absolutely offensive but it is being used in order to challenge Jeremy Corbyn,” he told Pienaar’s Politics on BBC Radio 5 Live.McCluskey, whose union is the party’s biggest donor, said: “The idea that there is an antisemitic crisis within the Labour party is absolutely offensive but it is being used in order to challenge Jeremy Corbyn,” he told Pienaar’s Politics on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Once the mood music of antisemitism dies down, then next week and the week after there will be another subject. It is an issue that comes up because somebody says something stupid and then immediately it becomes a crisis.”“Once the mood music of antisemitism dies down, then next week and the week after there will be another subject. It is an issue that comes up because somebody says something stupid and then immediately it becomes a crisis.”
The row had been “got up by the rightwing press aided and abetted by Labour MPs” and party grandees who “get out of their wheelchair and toss a few hand grenades in”, McCluskey said.
MPs would be “stupid” to move against Corbyn as he was “mobbed like a film star” by party members wherever he went, he suggested. “Everybody needs to calm down, get behind the leader and deal with issues, whether it is antisemitism or anything else that comes up, in an appropriate manner,” he said.
Corbyn announced an independent review last week and pledged to tighten party codes of conduct in an attempt to control the row over antisemitism, which has seen the MP Naz Shah as well as Livingstone suspended by the party.Corbyn announced an independent review last week and pledged to tighten party codes of conduct in an attempt to control the row over antisemitism, which has seen the MP Naz Shah as well as Livingstone suspended by the party.
He has faced calls from Israeli politicians and diplomats to give a more “unequivocal” condemnation, and warnings – including from the party’s London mayoral candidate, Sadiq Khan – that Labour would be punished in the 5 May elections.He has faced calls from Israeli politicians and diplomats to give a more “unequivocal” condemnation, and warnings – including from the party’s London mayoral candidate, Sadiq Khan – that Labour would be punished in the 5 May elections.
Related: How the parties let the poison of racism creep back into our politics | Andrew RawnsleyRelated: How the parties let the poison of racism creep back into our politics | Andrew Rawnsley
Mark Regev, Israel’s ambassador to London, called for Corbyn to distance himself from Hamas, which he described as an antisemitic organisation. “The left has a wonderful, proud history of fighting antisemitism, but we have seen some language over the last two or three weeks which is very concerning,” Regev said.Mark Regev, Israel’s ambassador to London, called for Corbyn to distance himself from Hamas, which he described as an antisemitic organisation. “The left has a wonderful, proud history of fighting antisemitism, but we have seen some language over the last two or three weeks which is very concerning,” Regev said.
“They have the right to criticise the Israeli government, Israeli citizens do it every day,” he said. “It is about demonising the Jewish state. It is not about criticising this or that Israeli policy it is about the demonising and vilification of my country and its very right to exist.“They have the right to criticise the Israeli government, Israeli citizens do it every day,” he said. “It is about demonising the Jewish state. It is not about criticising this or that Israeli policy it is about the demonising and vilification of my country and its very right to exist.
“It is important that the leadership is not neutral or agnostic about antisemitism. I’ll give you an example. You have had too many people of the progressive side of politics who have embraced Hamas and Hezbollah. Both of them are antisemitic organisations. You just have to read their charters which read like The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.“It is important that the leadership is not neutral or agnostic about antisemitism. I’ll give you an example. You have had too many people of the progressive side of politics who have embraced Hamas and Hezbollah. Both of them are antisemitic organisations. You just have to read their charters which read like The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.
“If you are progressive, you are embracing an organisation which is homophobic, which is misogynistic and which is openly antisemitic – what is progressive about that? There needs to be an unequivocal message from the leadership saying there is no solidarity with antisemites.”“If you are progressive, you are embracing an organisation which is homophobic, which is misogynistic and which is openly antisemitic – what is progressive about that? There needs to be an unequivocal message from the leadership saying there is no solidarity with antisemites.”