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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Tom Watson apologises over 'anti-Semitic' mural row | Tom Watson apologises over 'anti-Semitic' mural row |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson says Jeremy Corbyn was right to express regret for sending an apparently supportive message to the creator of an allegedly anti-Semitic mural. | Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson says Jeremy Corbyn was right to express regret for sending an apparently supportive message to the creator of an allegedly anti-Semitic mural. |
| Jeremy Corbyn faced criticism over his initial response to a Facebook post by street artist Mear One in 2012. | Jeremy Corbyn faced criticism over his initial response to a Facebook post by street artist Mear One in 2012. |
| He later called the mural "deeply disturbing" and backed its removal. | He later called the mural "deeply disturbing" and backed its removal. |
| Mr Watson also apologised personally for any hurt that had been caused by his leader's comments. | Mr Watson also apologised personally for any hurt that had been caused by his leader's comments. |
| What caused the row? | What caused the row? |
| In October 2012, Mear One posted a picture of his mural in east London called "Freedom of Humanity" on Facebook, with the words: "Tomorrow they want to buff my mural. Freedom of expression. London calling. Public Art." | In October 2012, Mear One posted a picture of his mural in east London called "Freedom of Humanity" on Facebook, with the words: "Tomorrow they want to buff my mural. Freedom of expression. London calling. Public Art." |
| Mr Corbyn replied: "Why? You are in good company. Rockerfeller destroyed Diego [Rivera's] mural because it includes a picture of Lenin." | |
| More recently, Labour MP Luciana Berger sought clarification from the leader's office on the 2012 comments - made three years before Mr Corbyn became the party's leader. | More recently, Labour MP Luciana Berger sought clarification from the leader's office on the 2012 comments - made three years before Mr Corbyn became the party's leader. |
| Mr Corbyn said: "I sincerely regret that I did not look more closely at the image I was commenting on, the contents of which are deeply disturbing and anti-Semitic. | Mr Corbyn said: "I sincerely regret that I did not look more closely at the image I was commenting on, the contents of which are deeply disturbing and anti-Semitic. |
| "I am opposed to the production of anti-Semitic material of any kind, and the defence of free speech cannot be used as a justification for the promotion of anti-Semitism in any form." | "I am opposed to the production of anti-Semitic material of any kind, and the defence of free speech cannot be used as a justification for the promotion of anti-Semitism in any form." |
| Mear One - whose real name is Kalen Ockerman - has denied being anti-Semitic, saying the mural was about "class and privilege". | Mear One - whose real name is Kalen Ockerman - has denied being anti-Semitic, saying the mural was about "class and privilege". |
| Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Watson was shown the mural and asked for his reaction to it. | Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Watson was shown the mural and asked for his reaction to it. |
| "My reaction is that is a horrible anti-Semitic mural that was rightly taken down," he said. | "My reaction is that is a horrible anti-Semitic mural that was rightly taken down," he said. |
| But he defended his leader - who said he regretted he "did not look more closely at the image" before commenting online - adding: "You are showing it to me on a 32-inch screen on national television and I have seen it about 100 times on social media. | But he defended his leader - who said he regretted he "did not look more closely at the image" before commenting online - adding: "You are showing it to me on a 32-inch screen on national television and I have seen it about 100 times on social media. |
| "It's very different from seeing it on Facebook when you are on the move." | "It's very different from seeing it on Facebook when you are on the move." |
| 'Expressed regret' | 'Expressed regret' |
| Mr Watson said Mr Corbyn had made his comment in regards to freedom of expression, but apologised for any offence caused. | Mr Watson said Mr Corbyn had made his comment in regards to freedom of expression, but apologised for any offence caused. |
| "I am very, very sorry that people feel hurt by this and that is why I think it is right that Jeremy has expressed regret for it," said Mr Watson. | "I am very, very sorry that people feel hurt by this and that is why I think it is right that Jeremy has expressed regret for it," said Mr Watson. |
| The deputy leader added that it was time Labour said "enough is enough" and they would "work harder to stamp out anti-Semitism" in the party. | The deputy leader added that it was time Labour said "enough is enough" and they would "work harder to stamp out anti-Semitism" in the party. |
| Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer said the mural was "grotesque and disgusting" but Mr Corbyn had given his explanation for his online comment. | Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer said the mural was "grotesque and disgusting" but Mr Corbyn had given his explanation for his online comment. |
| He told ITV's Peston on Sunday: "The most important thing here is that the Labour Party keeps on saying that anti-semitism has no place in our party, in our communities, or in our society. | He told ITV's Peston on Sunday: "The most important thing here is that the Labour Party keeps on saying that anti-semitism has no place in our party, in our communities, or in our society. |
| "We've got to have zero tolerance, and zero tolerance has got to be more than two words. It's got to dictate everything the Labour Party does in relation to anti-Semitism." | "We've got to have zero tolerance, and zero tolerance has got to be more than two words. It's got to dictate everything the Labour Party does in relation to anti-Semitism." |
| Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald told Sky News that Mr Corbyn "hasn't got an anti-Semitic bone in his body" and that the row had "misinterpreted the intentions of a really good and decent man". | Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald told Sky News that Mr Corbyn "hasn't got an anti-Semitic bone in his body" and that the row had "misinterpreted the intentions of a really good and decent man". |
| But Ms Berger called Mr Corbyn's response "wholly inadequate". | But Ms Berger called Mr Corbyn's response "wholly inadequate". |
| She tweeted: "It fails to understand on any level the hurt and anguish felt about Anti-Semitism. | She tweeted: "It fails to understand on any level the hurt and anguish felt about Anti-Semitism. |
| "I will be raising this further." | "I will be raising this further." |
| On Friday, Labour MP Angela Smith joined other members in supporting Ms Berger and sent a statement to the Leader's Office, calling for Mr Corbyn to appear before MPs to explain himself. | On Friday, Labour MP Angela Smith joined other members in supporting Ms Berger and sent a statement to the Leader's Office, calling for Mr Corbyn to appear before MPs to explain himself. |
| It read: "It is horrifying that anyone in our party - never mind the leader - should be able to condone anti-Semitism without facing consequences. And rather than facing up, Jeremy Corbyn has chosen to dissemble to defend himself. | It read: "It is horrifying that anyone in our party - never mind the leader - should be able to condone anti-Semitism without facing consequences. And rather than facing up, Jeremy Corbyn has chosen to dissemble to defend himself. |
| "It is simply not credible to suggest that a man with his knowledge of foreign affairs did not recognise those images for what they were. | "It is simply not credible to suggest that a man with his knowledge of foreign affairs did not recognise those images for what they were. |
| "Many of us would call for a formal disciplinary process, but the sad truth is that our party has been so badly undermined that no one would believe it would be meaningful." | "Many of us would call for a formal disciplinary process, but the sad truth is that our party has been so badly undermined that no one would believe it would be meaningful." |