ANTI-SEMITISM PROBLEM IN LABOUR PARTY, SAYS CORBYN

>> LONDON: Britain’s opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn conceded in a newspaper article yesterday that his party had a “real problem” with anti-Semitism as the issue continues to dog the veteran leftist.

“I do acknowledge there is a real problem that Labour is working to overcome,” he wrote in a guest column in the Guardian.

“And I accept that if any part of our national community feels threatened, anxious or vulnerable, not only must that be taken at face value but we must all ensure that those fears are put to rest,” he added.

Mr Corbyn, who has accused of being too soft on members of his party who have made anti-Semitic comments, vowed to root out the problem.

“People who dish out anti-Semitic poison need to understand: you do not do it in my name,” he wrote.

“You are not my supporters and have no place in our movement.”

The issue has dogged Mr Corbyn since he took over as Labour leader in 2015, and resurfaced earlier this week when the party refused to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism.

Three of the country’s leading Jewish newspaper joined the protest, proclaiming “united we stand” on their front pages.

Mr Corbyn earlier said that there had been 300 internal party referrals for anti-Semitism since 2015, around half of which led to expulsions or resignations.