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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 |
(35 minutes 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" toward 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 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". | 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". |
'Toxic atmosphere' | 'Toxic atmosphere' |
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. | 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. |
Among its findings were: | Among its findings were: |
The report by five Conservative, one SNP and two Labour MPs made unanimous recommendations to Twitter, the police and politicians on how to tackle 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 tackle anti-Semitism. |
Jonathan Arkush, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, welcomed the report. | Jonathan Arkush, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, welcomed the report. |
He said: "We look forward to a strong response from the government and the speedy implementation of the committee's recommendations." | He said: "We look forward to a strong response from the government and the speedy implementation of the committee's recommendations." |
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". | 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". | 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". | 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' | '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. |
Mr Corbyn hit back at the committee's findings and said the report's "political framing and disproportionate emphasis on Labour" risked undermining it. | 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 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 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". |
Former London mayor Ken Livingstone, who was suspended from Labour over anti-Semitism, said the committee was "rigged" against Mr Corbyn. | Former London mayor Ken Livingstone, who was suspended from Labour over anti-Semitism, said the committee was "rigged" against Mr Corbyn. |
He told BBC London: "The membership was either all solidly Tory - who weren't friends of Jeremy - [or] filled with [Labour] people who would actually go on, a few weeks later, to vote for no confidence in Jeremy." | |
Conservative MP Tim Loughton, who is acting chairman of the committee, said he resented the "attack on the integrity" of the MPs, who he said had "gone out of [their] way to be non-partisan". | Conservative MP Tim Loughton, who is acting chairman of the committee, said he resented the "attack on the integrity" of the MPs, who he said had "gone out of [their] way to be non-partisan". |
He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "You cannot deny that the spate of anti-Semitic incidents and allegations made against Labour Party members and many elected members has raised the whole profile of this issue. | |
"And it was because of that, that Jeremy Corbyn commissioned the so-called independent Chakrabarti report, which we feel wasn't worth the paper it was written on. | "And it was because of that, that Jeremy Corbyn commissioned the so-called independent Chakrabarti report, which we feel wasn't worth the paper it was written on. |
"And he still seems to be in denial about the nature and extent of the problem he has got within his own party." | "And he still seems to be in denial about the nature and extent of the problem he has got within his own party." |
Mr Loughton said the committee was still waiting for a reply from Baroness Chakrabarti "about the timings of when she was offered the peerage". | Mr Loughton said the committee was still waiting for a reply from Baroness Chakrabarti "about the timings of when she was offered the peerage". |
Last month, she said there was "nothing remotely transactional" about her work for Labour and subsequent peerage. | Last month, she said there was "nothing remotely transactional" about her work for Labour and subsequent peerage. |
Several Labour MPs, including Gisela Stuart, Pat McFadden and John Mann, have said the MPs' report must be taken seriously by the party. | |
'Outright racism' | 'Outright racism' |
The committee also said abuse on Twitter was "growing exponentially" and the company must do better at identifying abusers. | The committee also said abuse on Twitter was "growing exponentially" and the company must do better at identifying 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 it tackled hateful conduct "head-on", adding that there was "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 there was "a clear distinction between freedom of expression and conduct that incites violence and hate". |
The report expressed concern about use of the word "Zionist", saying "use of the word in an accusatory context should be considered inflammatory and potentially anti-Semitic". | The report expressed concern about use of the word "Zionist", saying "use of the word in an accusatory context should be considered inflammatory and potentially anti-Semitic". |
But it did say free speech should be allowed on the Palestinian issue, saying it was not anti-Semitic to hold the Israeli government to the same standards as other liberal democracies. | But it did say free speech should be allowed on the Palestinian issue, saying it was not anti-Semitic to hold the Israeli government to the same standards as other liberal democracies. |
The committee said a 2011 blog written by Ms Bouattia which called Birmingham University a "Zionist outpost" smacked of "outright racism". | The committee said a 2011 blog written by Ms Bouattia which called Birmingham University a "Zionist outpost" smacked of "outright racism". |
Ms Bouattia said she was "deeply concerned" about the reported rise of anti-Semitism on campus and regarded tackling it as a "key priority". | Ms Bouattia said she was "deeply concerned" about the reported rise of anti-Semitism on campus and regarded tackling it as a "key priority". |