ANTI-SEMITISM ROW HITS TONY BENN’S FAMILY Granddaughter is abused on stance
THE granddaughter of late Labour great Tony Benn has suffered abuse after criticising Jeremy Corbyn’s attempts to deal with the party’s anti-Semitism crisis.
Emily Benn had branded an article written by Mr Corbyn for the Guardian newspaper as “rubbish”.
But she was “angry and sickened” after a trade union official said her comments “could probably power a medium sized town from the energy generated by your grandfather’s rate of rotation in his grave”.
Ray Ellis, a national officer with the CWU, was condemned for his tweet.
One message read: “Tony Benn would be horrified at you speaking such venom in his name – especially to members of his own family.”
Shamed Mr Ellis then replied: “Possibly. He was much kinder than I am.” But Ms Benn refused to accept that as an apology and has now complained to Mr Ellis’s union.
News of the row comes as Labour MP Ian Austin today warns his party could lose the next election unless Mr Corbyn gets a grip on anti-Semitism.
Meanwhile, questions were being asked about why Laura Murray – one of Mr Corbyn’s top advisers – removed a tweet expressing her anger at anti-Semitic outpourings from Labour members. Sources said she decided to remove it after “facing abuse” from all sides. We can also reveal three Labour councillors accused of anti-Semitism – Luke Cresswell, Billy J Wells and Andy Slack – returned to the party unpunished. Labour said all antiSemitism complaints are “investigated in line with our rules”. But a Jewish Labour Movement spokesman said: “There’s one rule for Jews, and one rule for everyone else.” FORMER Labour MP Tom Harris yesterday quit the party, saying: “It’s just not the place for me any more.” scoops@sunday mirror.co.uk