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Jeremy Corbyn's response to anti-Semitism in Labour criticised by MPs Jeremy Corbyn's response to anti-Semitism in Labour criticised by MPs
(about 2 hours later)
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has not done enough to tackle anti-Semitism in the party, a committee of MPs has said.Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has not done enough to tackle anti-Semitism in the party, a committee of MPs has said.
The Home Affairs Select Committee report criticised him for a lack of "consistent leadership" on the issue, which it said benefited people with "vile attitudes" towards Jewish people.The Home Affairs Select Committee report criticised him for a lack of "consistent leadership" on the issue, which it said benefited people with "vile attitudes" towards Jewish people.
Mr Corbyn accused the committee of a "disproportionate" emphasis on Labour.Mr Corbyn accused the committee of a "disproportionate" emphasis on Labour.
The MPs also criticised Twitter, which they said hosted "vast swathes" of hate speech and abuse aimed at Jews.The MPs also criticised Twitter, which they said hosted "vast swathes" of hate speech and abuse aimed at Jews.
Their report said the social network should do more to identify abusers. A spokesman for Twitter said it tackled hateful conduct "head-on". Their Anti-Semitism in the UK report said the social network should do more to identify abusers. A spokesman for Twitter said it tackled hateful conduct "head-on".
The report by five Conservative, one SNP and two Labour MPs made unanimous recommendations to Twitter, the police and politicians on how to deal with and tackle anti-Semitism.
'Toxic atmosphere''Toxic atmosphere'
It said the failure of the Labour Party "consistently and effectively to deal with anti-Semitic incidents in recent years risks lending force to allegations that elements of the Labour movement are institutionally anti-Semitic". The cross-party committee also criticised National Union of Students (NUS) President Malia Bouattia for failing to take the issue sufficiently seriously on university campuses.
In June, a report by the former director of human rights body Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti - who has since become a Labour peer and shadow attorney general - found that the party was not overrun by anti-Semitism or other forms of racism but there was evidence of "minority hateful or ignorant attitudes and behaviours". Among its findings were:
The MPs said the Chakrabarti report was "compromised by its failure to deliver a comprehensive set of recommendations, to provide a definition of anti-Semitism, or to suggest effective ways of dealing with anti-Semitism." The report by five Conservative, one SNP and two Labour MPs made unanimous recommendations to Twitter, the police and politicians on how to deal with and tackle anti-Semitism.
They also said the Chakrabarti report made recommendations about creating a more robust disciplinary process within the Labour Party, but was "clearly lacking in many areas; particularly in its failure to differentiate explicitly between racism and anti-Semitism." The MPs said the failure of the Labour Party "consistently and effectively to deal with anti-Semitic incidents in recent years risks lending force to allegations that elements of the Labour movement are institutionally anti-Semitic".
In June, a report by the former director of human rights body Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti - who has since become a Labour peer and shadow attorney general - found that the party was not overrun by anti-Semitism or other forms of racism, but there was evidence of "minority hateful or ignorant attitudes and behaviours".
However, the MPs said the Chakrabarti report had failed to deliver "a comprehensive set of recommendations, to provide a definition of anti-Semitism, or to suggest effective ways of dealing with anti-Semitism".
'Narrow pool of opinion'
The committee's report said Mr Corbyn had a proud record of campaigning against many types of racism, but did not fully appreciate "the distinct nature of post-Second World War anti-Semitism".The committee's report said Mr Corbyn had a proud record of campaigning against many types of racism, but did not fully appreciate "the distinct nature of post-Second World War anti-Semitism".
The party was incompetent in dealing with members accused of anti-Semitism, it added.The party was incompetent in dealing with members accused of anti-Semitism, it added.
But Mr Corbyn hit back at the committee's findings and said the report's "political framing and disproportionate emphasis on Labour" risked undermining it.But Mr Corbyn hit back at the committee's findings and said the report's "political framing and disproportionate emphasis on Labour" risked undermining it.
He said the committee had heard evidence from "too narrow a pool of opinion" and had "violated natural justice" by rejecting requests from Baroness Chakrabarti and the Jewish Labour Movement to appear and give evidence.He said the committee had heard evidence from "too narrow a pool of opinion" and had "violated natural justice" by rejecting requests from Baroness Chakrabarti and the Jewish Labour Movement to appear and give evidence.
The report also "unfairly criticised" Baroness Chakrabarti, Mr Corbyn said, adding that Labour was "already acting on her recommendations".The report also "unfairly criticised" Baroness Chakrabarti, Mr Corbyn said, adding that Labour was "already acting on her recommendations".
"Although the committee heard evidence that 75% of anti-Semitic incidents come from far-right sources, and the report states there is no reliable evidence to suggest anti-Semitism is greater in Labour than other parties, much of the report focuses on the Labour Party," said Mr Corbyn."Although the committee heard evidence that 75% of anti-Semitic incidents come from far-right sources, and the report states there is no reliable evidence to suggest anti-Semitism is greater in Labour than other parties, much of the report focuses on the Labour Party," said Mr Corbyn.
The MPs' report said all parties needed to look at taking on its recommendations on training and discipline for members.The MPs' report said all parties needed to look at taking on its recommendations on training and discipline for members.
Twitter 'Outright racism'
The committee said abuse on Twitter was "growing exponentially" and the company must employ more resources to identify abusers.The committee said abuse on Twitter was "growing exponentially" and the company must employ more resources to identify abusers.
"The onus should not be on victims to monitor their accounts for ongoing abuse and report it to the company," MPs said."The onus should not be on victims to monitor their accounts for ongoing abuse and report it to the company," MPs said.
A spokesman for Twitter said hateful conduct "has no place on Twitter" and there is "a clear distinction between freedom of expression and conduct that incites violence and hate". A spokesman for Twitter said it tackled hateful conduct "head-on", adding that it had "no place on Twitter" and there was "a clear distinction between freedom of expression and conduct that incites violence and hate".
"We look forward to further constructive dialogue between government, our partners in civil society and our peers in the technology sector on this issue," the spokesman said. The report said it was worried by the use of the word "Zionist" as an inflammatory and anti-Semitic term of abuse, adding that "use of the word in an accusatory context should be considered inflammatory and potentially anti-Semitic".
Term of abuse But it did say free speech should be allowed on Israel and Palestine, adding that it was not anti-Semitic to hold the Israeli government to the same standards as other liberal democracies.
The report also said it was worried by the persistent use of "Zionist" as a term of abuse. The committee said the president of the NUS had shown a "worrying disregard" for her duty on the issue.
"Use of the word in an accusatory context should be considered inflammatory and potentially anti-Semitic by law enforcement and political party officials," the report said. And the MPs said that a 2011 blog written by Ms Bouattia which described Birmingham University as a "Zionist outpost" smacked of "outright racism".
But it did say that free speech should be allowed on Israel and Palestine, adding that it was not anti-Semitic to hold the Israeli government to the same standards as other liberal democracies. Ms Bouattia said she was "deeply concerned" about the reported rise of anti-Semitism on campus and regarded tackling it as a "key priority".
It found "shocking" the volume and viciousness of anti-Semitism online, including that directed at politicians. The MPs recommended that individuals reporting abuse should have a single point of contact with their local police force.
Among its findings were:
Onus on victims
Individuals reporting abuse should have a single point of contact with their local police force, MPs recommended.
The committee also criticised President of the National Union of Students Malia Bouattia for failing to take the issue sufficiently seriously on university campuses.
Acting chairman of the committee Tim Loughton MP said: "We stand shoulder to shoulder with individuals in all political parties, and across society, in their fight against anti-Semitism.Acting chairman of the committee Tim Loughton MP said: "We stand shoulder to shoulder with individuals in all political parties, and across society, in their fight against anti-Semitism.
"History shows that anti-Semitism is a virus that is too easily spread. We call on all leaders of political parties to lead by example to tackle the growing prevalence of this insidious form of hate, opposing racism and religious hate in all its forms.""History shows that anti-Semitism is a virus that is too easily spread. We call on all leaders of political parties to lead by example to tackle the growing prevalence of this insidious form of hate, opposing racism and religious hate in all its forms."