Labour MPs who shamed Corbyn on anti-Semitism are accused of inventing abuse

TWO Labour MPs whose heartbreaking experiences of antiSemitism shamed Jeremy Corbyn have been subjected to a further wave of online hate.

Luciana Berger and Ruth Smeeth were branded ‘Zionists’ and ‘liars’ by trolls on social media – and accused of inventing abuse to ‘smear’ the Labour leader.

In another difficult day for Mr Corbyn yesterday, Theresa May accused him of allowing anti-Semitism to flourish in the party while the London Mayor said Jewish people were reluctant to vote Labour.

During Prime Minister’s Questions, in which Mr Corbyn called the Tories ‘callous’, Mrs May told him: ‘I will not take an accusation of being callous from a man who allows anti-Semitism to run rife in his party.’

It followed an emotional debate on Tuesday in which the Commons was brought to its feet in support of the MPs. Mrs Smeeth received a standing ovation after speaking out about abuse she had received that called for Mr Corbyn to eject her from the party.

Miss Berger said she had received antiSemitic messages from people using the hashtag ‘JC4PM’ – Jeremy Corbyn for prime minister – and was called a ‘traitor’, ‘Judas’ and an ‘absolute parasite’.

But as soon as their speeches ended, hateful messages from Twitter users claiming to support Mr Corbyn started to appear.

One said Miss Berger was an ‘Israeli stooge’ determined to ‘prevent recognition of Palestine at all costs’. Another claimed the abuse had actually been from ‘RW [Rightwing]

‘Manufacturing a storm in a teacup’

fascists and Tory trolls’ employed by the Conservatives.

A further post said: ‘Seems certain Labour MPs are manufacturing a storm in a teacup merely because they dislike Jeremy Corbyn so much.’

One Twitter account said: ‘Ruth Smeeth is a liar. This kind of smear is the worst kind of smear.... typically nasty, not a sliver of truth, typically TORY.. and Theresa May having her back is basically the icing on the cake. Ruth is a Tory #Fake Anti semitism Sm ears .’

Last night, Labour MP Wes Streeting, who said during the debate that Jewish leaders would be ‘horrified to hear the response’ from the party’s front bench, condemned the abuse.

He said: ‘I think the message is finally cutting through to some Labour members who’ve been in denial about our anti-Semitism problem, but there are clearly some members who have used the parliamentary debate to further abuse Jewish MPs.

‘Zero tolerance must mean zero tolerance. The party’s leadership must now understand that we will be judged by actions, not words.’

In the Commons, Mrs May paid tribute to the ‘powerful contributions’ made by Miss Berger, Mrs Smeeth and Dame Margaret Hodge, later saying: ‘ Theirs was a fine example of the best of this House of Commons and the best of Members of Parliament.’

Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he had spoken to Jewish people who were ‘finding it very difficult’ to vote Labour, adding: ‘Why? Because they’re Jewish and there is a perception their party has not dealt with problems of anti-Semitism.

‘You can’t escape the fact that they genuinely believe that.’ On Twitter, Mr Corbyn said yesterday: ‘I pay tribute to MPs who spoke in yesterday’s anti-Semitism debate, whose harrowing experiences remind us of the urgent need to eradicate anti-Semitism from politics and society.

‘There is no excuse for abuse of any kind, and I want to thank them for their bravery in speaking out.’

Earlier yesterday, Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott admitted the party had not dealt with the issue in the past.