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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/mar/30/christine-shawcroft-antisemitism-row-stirred-up-to-attack-jeremy-corbyn
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| Christine Shawcroft: antisemitism row 'stirred up to attack Jeremy' | Christine Shawcroft: antisemitism row 'stirred up to attack Jeremy' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Christine Shawcroft, who resigned as chair of Labour’s disputes panel after questioning the suspension of an alleged Holocaust denier, has claimed the row is “being stirred up to attack Jeremy [Corbyn]”. | Christine Shawcroft, who resigned as chair of Labour’s disputes panel after questioning the suspension of an alleged Holocaust denier, has claimed the row is “being stirred up to attack Jeremy [Corbyn]”. |
| Her comments came to light just as Corbyn sought to draw a line under the row in his party in a Passover message, conceding that Labour must “do better” in tackling antisemitism. | Her comments came to light just as Corbyn sought to draw a line under the row in his party in a Passover message, conceding that Labour must “do better” in tackling antisemitism. |
| Shawcroft resigned her post on Wednesday night after an email emerged in which she questioned the suspension of the Peterborough council candidate Alan Bull. | Shawcroft resigned her post on Wednesday night after an email emerged in which she questioned the suspension of the Peterborough council candidate Alan Bull. |
| Bull was accused of sharing on Facebook an article headlined “International Red Cross report confirms the Holocaust of 6m Jews is a hoax”, illustrated with a photograph of the gates of the Auschwitz concentration camp. | Bull was accused of sharing on Facebook an article headlined “International Red Cross report confirms the Holocaust of 6m Jews is a hoax”, illustrated with a photograph of the gates of the Auschwitz concentration camp. |
| In a public Facebook post on Friday, Shawcroft said she had not seen the “appalling and abhorrent” article before emailing leftwing colleagues on Labour’s ruling national executive council (NEC) to support Bull. “As soon as I saw it I told the member that he should have antisemitism training,” she added. | In a public Facebook post on Friday, Shawcroft said she had not seen the “appalling and abhorrent” article before emailing leftwing colleagues on Labour’s ruling national executive council (NEC) to support Bull. “As soon as I saw it I told the member that he should have antisemitism training,” she added. |
| “This whole row is being stirred up to attack Jeremy, as we all know,” Shawcroft went on. “That someone who has spent his whole life fighting racism in all its forms should find himself being accused of not doing enough to counter it, absolutely beggars belief.” | “This whole row is being stirred up to attack Jeremy, as we all know,” Shawcroft went on. “That someone who has spent his whole life fighting racism in all its forms should find himself being accused of not doing enough to counter it, absolutely beggars belief.” |
| Corbyn’s office is in a standoff with Jewish leaders, who have demanded a meeting with the Labour leader but insisted that as a precondition he should condemn those who have attacked Labour MPs who attended a vigil outside parliament against antisemitism on Monday. | Corbyn’s office is in a standoff with Jewish leaders, who have demanded a meeting with the Labour leader but insisted that as a precondition he should condemn those who have attacked Labour MPs who attended a vigil outside parliament against antisemitism on Monday. |
| More than a dozen Labour MPs joined the protest, which was called by the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council, to send a message to the leadership that “enough is enough”. | More than a dozen Labour MPs joined the protest, which was called by the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council, to send a message to the leadership that “enough is enough”. |
| Some, including the Tottenham MP, David Lammy, have subsequently received abuse and even threats of deselection on social media. | Some, including the Tottenham MP, David Lammy, have subsequently received abuse and even threats of deselection on social media. |
| The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, sought to confront the issue on Friday, criticising Labour supporters who have signed a letter describing Monday’s protest as the work of a “very powerful special interest group” aiming to destabilise Corbyn. | |
| “Describing Jewish people as a ‘very powerful special interest group’ is an antisemitic stereotype that undermines, not supports Jeremy and his determination to unite our communities. Let’s all come together now, not divide,” McDonnell tweeted. | |
| In his message, Corbyn said: “Passover is a time to celebrate a journey from oppression to freedom. We remember all our Jewish brothers and sisters, who have battled against discrimination and faced the most horrific acts of violence and mass murder.” | In his message, Corbyn said: “Passover is a time to celebrate a journey from oppression to freedom. We remember all our Jewish brothers and sisters, who have battled against discrimination and faced the most horrific acts of violence and mass murder.” |
| He then highlighted rising antisemitism in Poland and France and added: “It is easy to denounce antisemitism when you see it in other countries, in other political movements. It is sometimes harder to see it when it is closer to home. | He then highlighted rising antisemitism in Poland and France and added: “It is easy to denounce antisemitism when you see it in other countries, in other political movements. It is sometimes harder to see it when it is closer to home. |
| “We in the labour movement will never be complacent about antisemitism. We all need to do better. I am committed to ensuring the Labour party is a welcoming and secure place for Jewish people. | “We in the labour movement will never be complacent about antisemitism. We all need to do better. I am committed to ensuring the Labour party is a welcoming and secure place for Jewish people. |
| “And I hope this Passover will mark a move to stronger and closer relations between us and everyone in the Jewish community.” | “And I hope this Passover will mark a move to stronger and closer relations between us and everyone in the Jewish community.” |
| Shawcroft stressed in her post that she was “not a Holocaust denier and would not support a Holocaust denier”. But by airing the claim that the antisemitism protests have been an attack on Corbyn she is likely to infuriate Jewish groups. | Shawcroft stressed in her post that she was “not a Holocaust denier and would not support a Holocaust denier”. But by airing the claim that the antisemitism protests have been an attack on Corbyn she is likely to infuriate Jewish groups. |
| Almost 40 Labour MPs and peers signed a letter on Thursday night calling for Shawcroft to be removed from Labour’s NEC altogether. She is due to step down in June when fresh elections will be held. | Almost 40 Labour MPs and peers signed a letter on Thursday night calling for Shawcroft to be removed from Labour’s NEC altogether. She is due to step down in June when fresh elections will be held. |
| Demonstrating that Labour has a firm grip on antisemitism will be one of the first and most pressing challenges facing its new general secretary, Jennie Formby, when she starts in the job next Tuesday. | Demonstrating that Labour has a firm grip on antisemitism will be one of the first and most pressing challenges facing its new general secretary, Jennie Formby, when she starts in the job next Tuesday. |
| Some former NEC members say both Shawcroft and Formby were among those who have tended to cast a sceptical eye over issues of party suspensions when they are discussed by the NEC, fearing them to be politically motivated. | Some former NEC members say both Shawcroft and Formby were among those who have tended to cast a sceptical eye over issues of party suspensions when they are discussed by the NEC, fearing them to be politically motivated. |
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