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Labour 'loses 17,000 members' adding to pressure on Corbyn as antisemitism row continues Labour 'loses 17,000 members' adding to pressure on Corbyn as antisemitism row continues
(about 2 hours later)
Labour Party membership has plunged by more than 17,000 since the start of the year, according to a new report. Labour has denied that thousands of members quitting the party is a response Jeremy Corbyn's response to the Salisbury nerve agent attack and his handling of antisemitism in the party.
The three per cent drop in paying supporters adds to the pressure on Jeremy Corbyn over his handling of antisemitism allegations. A leaked report suggests 17,000 people have left the party since the start of the year - amounting to three per cent of the total membership.
Hundreds have resigned over the crisis engulfing the party and many more have not renewed their direct debits, according to internal figures seen by The Times. Hundreds have resigned over the crisis engulfing the party and many more have not renewed their direct debits, according to internal figures seen by The Times.
The report emerged as the Labour party stepped up its campaign for the local council elections in May by appealing for new members on Twitter. However, Labour sources insisted the drop was not related to Mr Corbyn's recent controversies. The party gives members six months to pay membership arrears, meaning the majority of those whose subscriptions lapsed in the last few months actually stopped paying fees last year.
Membership reached a peak of 570,000 after the general election but now appears to be falling. They said the leaked data does not include last week, when the latest row about antisemitism in Labour erupted, and is in keeping with other equivalent periods.
London alone lost 3,500 members in the last three months, with the North West reporting a fall of 2,000. A spokesperson said: "Labour's membership is well over half a million and in fine health. The latest data has been misrepresented in this story.”
Labour's membership reached a peak of 570,000 after the general election but now appears to be falling.
According to the leaked report, no region in England reported a rise in party members since the start of 2018. London lost 3,500 members in the last three months, and the North West reported a fall of 2,000.
Meanwhile the Corbyn-supporting campaign group Momentum has claimed that it added 600 members in the past week.Meanwhile the Corbyn-supporting campaign group Momentum has claimed that it added 600 members in the past week.
Mr Corbyn admitted there were "pockets" of antisemitism in Labour and apologised for the "pain and hurt" caused to Jewish people. The latest row erupted after it emerged Mr Corbyn had previously objected to the removal of an east London mural that depicted wealthy Jews playing Monopoly on the backs of workers.
The latest row erupted after it emerged he had defended an east London mural which depicted wealthy Jews playing Monopoly on the backs of workers. Facing mounting criticism over his response, the Labour leader admitted there were "pockets" of antisemitism in the party and apologised for the "pain and hurt" caused to Jewish people.
Mr Corbyn's key ally Christine Shawcroft resigned from the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) after it emerged she had defended a council candidate accused of Holocaust denial. Mr Corbyn's close ally, Christine Shawcroft, was forced to resign from the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) after it emerged she had defended a council candidate accused of Holocaust denial.
In an attempt to defuse the crisis Mr Corbyn's Facebook account was deleted this weekend following claims he joined supporters' groups that contained antisemitic comments. In an attempt to defuse the crisis, Mr Corbyn's Facebook account was deleted this weekend following claims he was a member of supporters' groups that contained antisemitic comments.