Corbyn insists he is a ‘militant opponent’ of anti-Semitism’

Labour: The opposition leader apologised for ‘hurt and pain’ caused

Jeremy Corbyn has written to Jewish leaders insisting he is a “militant opponent” of anti-Semitism.

The opposition leader apologised for “hurt and pain” caused by instances of anti-Semitism in Labour as he faced a wave of criticism from within the Jewish community.

The letter to the Board of Deputies and Jewish Leadership Council came after the organisations launched a stinging attack on Mr Corbyn, accusing him of siding with anti-Semites “again and again”.

Mr Corbyn said: “I recognise that antiSemitism has surfaced within the Labour Party, and has too often been dismissed as simply a matter of a few bad apples.

“This has caused pain and hurt to Jewish members of our party and to the wider Jewish community in Britain. I am sincerely sorry for the pain which has been caused, and pledge to redouble my efforts to bring this anxiety to an end.

“I must make it clear that I will never be anything other than a militant opponent of anti-Semitism.”

Mr Corbyn also personally apologised for questioning the removal of a controversial mural in London.

He said there needed to be a deeper understanding of what constitutes antiSemitism in the Labour Party.

He said: “Sometimes this evil takes familiar forms – the east London mural which has caused such understandable controversy is an example. The idea of Jewish bankers and capitalists exploiting the workers of the world is an old anti-Semitic conspiracy theory.

“This was long ago, and rightly, described as ‘the socialism of fools’.

“I am sorry for not having studied the content of the mural more closely before wrongly questioning its removal in 2012.”

The Labour leader said the party had been too slow to acting in the past.

“I acknowledge that anti-Semitic attitudes have surfaced more often in our ranks in recent years, and that the party has been too slow in processing some of the cases that have emerged.

“Early action has nevertheless been taken, and we will work to speed up procedures, to deal with cases of antiSemitic abuse or attitudes.”

I recognise that antiSemitism has surfaced within the Labour Party, and has too often been dismissed as simply a matter of a few bad apples

Picture: Getty. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been accused of siding with anti-Semites.