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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" 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" 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." 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 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. 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 report must be taken seriously by the party. 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".