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Labour anti-Semitism row: Corbyn attends left-wing Jewish event | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been criticised for attending an event organised by Jewdas - a left-wing Jewish group critical of more mainstream Jewish organisations. | |
It comes hours after Mr Corbyn promised "watertight" investigations into claims of anti-Semitism within his party. | It comes hours after Mr Corbyn promised "watertight" investigations into claims of anti-Semitism within his party. |
One Labour MP called his actions "irresponsible and dangerous". | One Labour MP called his actions "irresponsible and dangerous". |
On Monday, Momentum, the movement backing Mr Corbyn, said the party had "failed" on anti-Semitism. | |
Jewdas has accused the Jewish Board of Deputies, Jewish Leadership Council and Jewish Labour Movement of "playing a dangerous game" and previously dismissed anti-Semitism allegations as right-wing smears. | Jewdas has accused the Jewish Board of Deputies, Jewish Leadership Council and Jewish Labour Movement of "playing a dangerous game" and previously dismissed anti-Semitism allegations as right-wing smears. |
A spokesman for the Labour leader confirmed Mr Corbyn had attended the event, marking the Jewish festival of Seder, in a personal capacity and not on behalf of the party. | A spokesman for the Labour leader confirmed Mr Corbyn had attended the event, marking the Jewish festival of Seder, in a personal capacity and not on behalf of the party. |
BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said there was "nothing remarkable" about Mr Corbyn attending the event in his constituency alongside a group he shares many views with - such as its anti-capitalist stance and pro-Palestinian views. | |
However, he said it had raised questions about why the Labour leader did not go to a Seder celebration by a more mainstream organisation, with some of his critics seeing his attendance as "almost playing down the significance of the current row over anti-Semitism". | |
'Baiting the mainstream' | |
In a tweet, Labour MP John Woodcock said meeting the group gave the message that "extreme views are OK". | In a tweet, Labour MP John Woodcock said meeting the group gave the message that "extreme views are OK". |
Labour's Angela Smith said Mr Corbyn's attendance was a "blatant dismissal" of the case to tackle anti-Semitism in the party. | Labour's Angela Smith said Mr Corbyn's attendance was a "blatant dismissal" of the case to tackle anti-Semitism in the party. |
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, Gideon Falter, said Mr Corbyn's claims to remedy anti-Semitism within the party and his appearance at this meeting made him a "duplicitous" man. | Meanwhile, the chairman of the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, Gideon Falter, said Mr Corbyn's claims to remedy anti-Semitism within the party and his appearance at this meeting made him a "duplicitous" man. |
The chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, Karen Pollock, said on Twitter it was "mocking and disrespectful". | The chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, Karen Pollock, said on Twitter it was "mocking and disrespectful". |
The party has been engulfed in a row about attitudes towards the Jewish community after it emerged there was a backlog of some 70 complaints of anti-Semitism within the party that had not been dealt with. | |
Mr Corbyn has previously apologised for the "hurt" in the failures to address complaints and insisted the party does not tolerate anti-Semitism in any form. | Mr Corbyn has previously apologised for the "hurt" in the failures to address complaints and insisted the party does not tolerate anti-Semitism in any form. |
Labour has dropped one council candidate over allegedly sharing posts on social media urging followers to "question the Holocaust". | Labour has dropped one council candidate over allegedly sharing posts on social media urging followers to "question the Holocaust". |
In its statement on Monday, Momentum's national co-ordinating group acknowledged the failure to deal with cases in a "sufficiently decisive, swift and transparent manner". | |
While it suggested that Mr Corbyn's opponents might be "opportunistically using this issue as a way to undermine his leadership", that did not diminish "our responsibility to challenge anti-Semitism whenever and wherever it occurs". | |
Later, the party's new general secretary will start her role to ensure allegations of anti-Semitism are dealt with effectively. | Later, the party's new general secretary will start her role to ensure allegations of anti-Semitism are dealt with effectively. |
In an interview with Channel 4 News, Mr Corbyn said the issue would be a top priority for Jennie Formby and insisted "absolutely strong and watertight" investigations would take place. | In an interview with Channel 4 News, Mr Corbyn said the issue would be a top priority for Jennie Formby and insisted "absolutely strong and watertight" investigations would take place. |