Anti-semitism and a demo against a demo

Valerie Vaz (Lab, Walsall South) was attempting to defend Jeremy Corbyn. At least, I think she was.

“He’s been steeped in anti-semitism throughout his time in the Labour party!” she told Radio 4. As for the party itself, she said firmly: “We must make sure we continue to show people we are anti-semitic.”

Presumably she meant to say “anti-anti-semitic”. What made the slip special, though, was that she didn’t notice she’d made it. The presenter, Carolyn Quinn, didn’t comment. Then again, the way things are going in the Labour Party, maybe it just didn’t sound all that remarkable.

Yesterday evening, two demonstrations were held simultaneously in a packed Parliament Square. The much larger of the two – organised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council – was a demo against anti-semitism in Labour. The other – by Jewish supporters of Mr Corbyn – was a demo against the first demo. Inevitably, chaos reigned. “This isn’t about anti-semitism, it’s about attacking Corbyn because he has a Left-wing agenda!” roared a man from the second demo.

“Oh, Corbyn’s a racist” chanted a group from the first demo, to the tune of “Oh, Jeremy Corbyn”.

“Shame on you!” shouted members of both sides at each other.

Home-made placards were brandished with glares. “No Place for Anti-semites in Labour – They’re Already Oversubscribed,” read one from the first demo.

“Stop the Media Witch Hunt,” read one from the second. “Corbyn IS the ‘Pocket’!” read another from the first – in reference to Mr Corbyn’s admission that his party contained “pockets” of anti-semitism.

Joining the first demo were more than a dozen Labour MPS. John Mann (Lab, Bassetlaw) grabbed a microphone.

“What on earth is going on in our party?” he barked. “It’s time for Jeremy Corbyn to…” Mr Mann said “act”, but he was drowned out by others in the crowd shouting: “GO!”

“I don’t know why Jeremy Corbyn, who speaks out against racism, can’t see Labour anti-semitism,” said Louise Ellman (Lab, Liverpool Riverside).

“He can!” snorted a man darkly.

“Anti-semitism is alive in the Labour Party,” said

‘“Shame on you!” shouted members of both sides at each other’

Luciana Berger. “I’m going to go to [a meeting of the parliamentary Labour Party] and say exactly what I’ve just said to all of you.”

“Will Corbyn be there?” shouted someone.

Ms Berger didn’t reply. But then, everyone knew the answer.

At the exact same time as the meeting was being held, Mr Corbyn decided to give a lengthy speech in the Commons about Russia. This did not, however, save him from criticism by his own side. When he claimed to have been a critic of Russian governments “for more than 20 years”, John Woodcock (Lab, Barrow and Furness) leapt up and shouted, “It’s just not true!” Tories cheered. Mr Corbyn bristled.

“I thank my friend for his usual helpful intervention,” he said sourly. He might as well have taken his chances at the meeting.