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Labour anti-Semitism row: Corbyn attends left-wing Jewish event Labour anti-Semitism row: Corbyn faces criticism over Jewdas event
(about 2 hours 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.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 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. But a leading Corbyn supporter said his attendance at the event was "not as significant as it's being made out."
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. Jon Lansman, founder of Momentum, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It was his night off, he had nothing in his official diary, his office didn't know he was there."
'Unconscious bias'
Mr Lansman said past comments by Jewdas about Israel were "certainly not helpful to Jeremy or the cause of opposing anti-Semitism in the Labour Party".
But he said Mr Corbyn was keen to meet the leaders of "mainstream Jewish organisations", adding: "Jeremy is a lifelong anti-racist."
He said accusations of anti-Semitism in Labour could not be dismissed as "smears" against Mr Corbyn, and there was a widespread problem of "unconscious bias" in the party which needed to addressed by a "programme of education and training".
A spokesman for the Labour leader confirmed Mr Corbyn had attended the Seder event, a ritual service held on Passover, in a personal capacity and not on behalf of the party.A spokesman for the Labour leader confirmed Mr Corbyn had attended the Seder event, a ritual service held on Passover, 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. Jewdas, which describes itself as a "radical" and "alternative" Jewish collective, is at odds with mainstream Jewish groups over allegations of anti-Semitism in Labour.
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". It 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.
'Baiting the mainstream' The Jewish Labour Movement said Mr Corbyn's attendance at the Jewdas event "topped off the worst week on record of awful relations between the Labour Party and the Jewish community".
Spokesman Ivor Caplin, a former MP, said: "When we called on the leader of our party to show moral leadership and take decisive action to stamp out anti-Semitism, this is not what we had in mind."
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.
The chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, Jonathan Goldstein, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he had "no issue" with Jewdas and its opinions.The chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, Jonathan Goldstein, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he had "no issue" with Jewdas and its opinions.
However, he criticised Mr Corbyn for meeting the group "in his first act towards the Jewish community" since his organisation had written to the leader regarding anti-Semitism, because Jewdas had called the letter a "cynical plot".However, he criticised Mr Corbyn for meeting the group "in his first act towards the Jewish community" since his organisation had written to the leader regarding anti-Semitism, because Jewdas had called the letter a "cynical plot".
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".
Jewdas responded to the criticism on Twitter, posting: "Great that there's so much interest in our work tonight! Please feel free to make a donation!"Jewdas responded to the criticism on Twitter, posting: "Great that there's so much interest in our work tonight! Please feel free to make a donation!"
The group added: "This has been a difficult week to be a lefty Jew.The group added: "This has been a difficult week to be a lefty Jew.
"[The Seder] reminded us that the reasons we're Jewish are the same as our reasons for being revolutionaries: our commitment to making this world better than it is now.""[The Seder] reminded us that the reasons we're Jewish are the same as our reasons for being revolutionaries: our commitment to making this world better than it is now."
Comedian David Baddiel also rejected claims that the group was "despised" by mainstream Jews.Comedian David Baddiel also rejected claims that the group was "despised" by mainstream Jews.
He tweeted: "No it isn't. They are just Jews who disagree with other Jews. Which means: Jews."He tweeted: "No it isn't. They are just Jews who disagree with other Jews. Which means: Jews."
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.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". Later, the party's new general secretary Jennie Formby will start her role to ensure allegations of anti-Semitism are dealt with effectively.
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". In an interview with Channel 4 News, Mr Corbyn said the issue would be a top priority for MS Formby and insisted "absolutely strong and watertight" investigations would take place.
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.