This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43624231
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Labour anti-Semitism row: Corbyn faces criticism over Jewdas event | Labour anti-Semitism row: Corbyn faces criticism over Jewdas event |
| (about 1 hour 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 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". |
| But a leading Corbyn supporter said his attendance at the event was "not as significant as it's being made out." | But a leading Corbyn supporter said his attendance at the event was "not as significant as it's being made out." |
| 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." | 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." |
| 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". | 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." | 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". | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Analysis | |
| By the BBC's Assistant Political Editor Norman Smith | |
| This was an event just outside Mr Corbyn's Islington North constituency attended by a number of his Jewish constituents and, it's said, a senior Rabbi. | |
| But some of the UK's leading Jewish organisations believe his attendance was, at worst, a provocative snub or, at best, an error of judgement by the Labour leader. | |
| The reason is that his hosts, Jewdas, a radical group of mostly younger left-wing Jews, have been highly critical of allegations of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party. | |
| (They are also strongly opposed to the mainstream Jewish establishment in Britain and threaten to "mercilessly satirize" them). | |
| The Jewish Leadership Council and others have suggested Mr Corbyn has shown a lack of sensitivity and a lack of seriousness about tackling anti-Semitism. | |
| "He still doesn't get it," I was told. | |
| So was it a deliberate act of defiance on Mr Corbyn's part? Or was it an oversight; an act of naivety by a leader attending a constituency event without regard to the possible implications? | |
| Over to you, Mr Corbyn. | |
| 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". | 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." | 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". |
| Later, the party's new general secretary Jennie Formby will start her role to ensure allegations of anti-Semitism are dealt with effectively. | Later, the party's new general secretary Jennie Formby 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 Ms Formby and insisted "absolutely strong and watertight" investigations would take place. |