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Jeremy Corbyn begins tour of Scotland Jeremy Corbyn condemns ex-Labour MP's comments in anti-Semitism row
(about 5 hours later)
Jeremy Corbyn has begun a four-day tour of Scotland, amid continuing accusations of anti-Semitism. Jeremy Corbyn has condemned comments about the Jewish community allegedly made by a former Scottish Labour MP.
The Labour party leader is due to deliver a speech outlining a new vision for the Scottish economy. The Labour leader was responding to renewed questions about anti-Semitism in the party as he began a four-day tour of Scotland.
But he is expected to face more questions about anti-Semitism following the suspension of former MP Jim Sheridan from the party. In remarks reportedly posted on his Facebook page, Jim Sheridan said he had lost "respect and empathy" for the Jewish community.
Mr Sheridan is alleged to be responsible for posts about the Jewish community made on social media. Mr Corbyn said the comments were "completely unacceptable".
A post on Facebook spoke of the Renfrewshire councillor's loss of "respect and empathy" for the Jewish community amid the row about anti-Semitism. Mr Sheridan, who is now a councillor in Renfrewshire, has been suspended from the party.
It has since been removed. 'Independent investigation'
The Labour Party has said it cannot comment on individual cases, but that complaints of anti-Semitism are all "fully investigated". Mr Corbyn described the comments attributed to Mr Sheridan, which have since been removed, as "completely wrong".
He is the second Scottish councillor to be suspended from the party over online comments made about the anti-Semitism row. The Labour leader said: "He did withdraw it later on, he has been suspended from membership, there will be an independent investigation - independent of me that is - so I can't comment any further.
"There's no place whatsoever for anti-Semitisim in our party or anywhere in our society and our whole process is to ensure it doesn't happen."
Mr Corbyn said he was determined to "eradicate it completely" from the party.
Mr Sheridan is the second Scottish councillor to be suspended from the party over online comments made about the anti-Semitism row.
Earlier this year, Fife councillor Mary Lockhart suggested that headlines critical of Labour's position could be the work of the Israeli security services.Earlier this year, Fife councillor Mary Lockhart suggested that headlines critical of Labour's position could be the work of the Israeli security services.
The row centres on Labour's new code of conduct on anti-Semitism, which its critics say is not as comprehensive as the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's guidelines.The row centres on Labour's new code of conduct on anti-Semitism, which its critics say is not as comprehensive as the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's guidelines.
Mr Corbyn told BBC Scotland that he wanted to safeguard "open and proper debate".
"We have adopted the IHRA statement and definition, we've adopted many of the examples," he said.
"I are very concerned, however, to make sure there can be open and proper debate about Israel and its foreign policy, and about the future for Palestinian people.
"Hence there has to be that space for debate, you cannot shut that down. But it can never, ever be conducted in an anti-Semitic way."
'Frankly laughable'
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has said he wants Labour to have a "robust" code of conduct that commands the support of the Jewish community.Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has said he wants Labour to have a "robust" code of conduct that commands the support of the Jewish community.
He is expected to share a platform with Mr Corbyn at the Alexander Dennis bus manufacturers in Falkirk later as part of a campaign to promote British industry.
Ephraim Borowski, of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, told BBC Radio Scotland he had held constructive discussions with Mr Leonard.Ephraim Borowski, of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, told BBC Radio Scotland he had held constructive discussions with Mr Leonard.
Interviewed on Good Morning Scotland, he rubbished suggestions that the row was part of a plot to oust Mr Corbyn from the head of the Labour party.Interviewed on Good Morning Scotland, he rubbished suggestions that the row was part of a plot to oust Mr Corbyn from the head of the Labour party.
"There will be all kinds of people who have all kinds of different reasons for the attitude that they take to Jeremy Corbyn, or for that matter Theresa May or Boris Johnston, it doesn't make them plotters," he said."There will be all kinds of people who have all kinds of different reasons for the attitude that they take to Jeremy Corbyn, or for that matter Theresa May or Boris Johnston, it doesn't make them plotters," he said.
"The fact that they have something that they object to, the fact that they may even agree with other people about what it is that they object to, doesn't make them part of any kind of conspiracy.""The fact that they have something that they object to, the fact that they may even agree with other people about what it is that they object to, doesn't make them part of any kind of conspiracy."
He added: "The idea that because somebody is critical of Jeremy Corbyn, they must be in the pay of Mossad is frankly laughable."He added: "The idea that because somebody is critical of Jeremy Corbyn, they must be in the pay of Mossad is frankly laughable."
In a statement from the Labour party, it said it took all complaints of anti-Semitism "extremely seriously" and was "committed to challenging and campaigning against it in all its forms".
"All complaints about anti-Semitism are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken," it added.
It came as Scotland's justice secretary Humza Yousaf revealed he had not yet been interviewed as part of a Labour investigation into Islamophobic remarks made against him.It came as Scotland's justice secretary Humza Yousaf revealed he had not yet been interviewed as part of a Labour investigation into Islamophobic remarks made against him.
Dumfries and Galloway Labour councillor Jim Dempster was suspended from the party after he admitted the outburst, and apologised for it.Dumfries and Galloway Labour councillor Jim Dempster was suspended from the party after he admitted the outburst, and apologised for it.
In a series of tweets, Mr Yousaf said he had been told the probe would conclude in July but he had "heard nothing".In a series of tweets, Mr Yousaf said he had been told the probe would conclude in July but he had "heard nothing".
Mr Corbyn is scheduled to spend the morning at bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis in Falkirk as part of the party's "Build it in Britain" campaign to promote British industry. Mr Corbyn was joined by Richard Leonard on the first morning of his trip to Scotland, where he met workers from the Alexander Dennis bus manufacturing plant in Falkirk.
It was part of Labour's "Build it in Britain" campaign to promote British industry.
He launched that campaign at a speech in Birmingham last month, in which he promised that Labour would use state aid powers "to the full" to support Britain's manufacturing sector following Brexit.He launched that campaign at a speech in Birmingham last month, in which he promised that Labour would use state aid powers "to the full" to support Britain's manufacturing sector following Brexit.
The party believes that UK-based manufacturers could benefit from its plans to use government spending to buy British where possible, with positive consequences for job creation and tax revenues. "What we have had now is eight years of austerity, what we have had is 10 years of frozen wages, what we have is a decline in our economy as a result of that," he told BBC Scotland.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Mr Corbyn said: "The next Labour government will re-programme the economy to deliver an industrial renaissance for Scotland." "You cannot cut your way to prosperity, the only route to prosperity that I understand is investing for the future."
He added: "Labour will use the public sector's enormous buying power to support workers and industries by buying in Britain whenever possible.
"We will boost Scottish manufacturing, which will support jobs and living standards in the wider economy, strengthen our capacity to export, and expand our tax base.
"It's time the Scottish people had a government with the determination to create an economy that works for the many, not the few."