Veteran MP did not ‘misinterpret’ Corbyn over anti-semitism, say allies

JOHN MCDONNELL was last night rebuked by allies of Dame Margaret Hodge after he claimed that she had “misinterpreted” Labour’s controversial anti-semitism code.

The shadow chancellor was accused of “digging himself a hole” after suggesting a row between Jeremy Corbyn and the MP had been a “misunderstanding” that could be resolved “amicably”. It came as the Jewish Chronicle, Jewish Telegraph and Jewish News ran the same leader on their front pages for the first time, expressing “communal anger and concern” over anti-semitism in the Labour Party. Each used the headline: “United We Stand”.

Mr Mcdonnell said an exchange that saw Dame Margaret brand the Labour leader an anti-semite in full view of fellow MPS had left Mr Corbyn “deeply upset” because he had “worked so hard on issues of anti-semitism and racism”.

He told Today on Radio 4: “I realised there was a complete misinterpretation of the code, so I can understand why she was so angry.” He later said debate over the code, condemned by MPS, Jewish leaders and the Chief Rabbi, was hindering efforts to root out anti-semitism. Last night friends of Dame Margaret said there had been “no misinterpretation” on her part, and accused Mr Mcdonnell of sweeping the issue under the carpet. “He’s digging himself a hole,” one said. “There was no misunderstanding, and if there was, that would extend to Jewish leaders and most of the parliamentary Labour Party”. The source also said Dame Margaret, whose relatives died in the Holocaust, stood by her remarks and maintained the new code had weakened the definition of anti-semitism.

His comments came amid a row in Labour over the decision by the party national executive committee (NEC) to reject an internationally recognised definition of anti-semitism in favour of its own, infuriating moderate MPS, who demanded the NEC implement in full the version put by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

Last night, it emerged an inquiry into Dame Margaret’s behaviour had been triggered by Andy Mcdonald, the shadow transport secretary and a Corbyn ally. Mr Mcdonald said her comments

‘There was no misunderstanding, and if there was, that would extend to Jewish leaders and most of the PLP’

had been “vitriolic” and that he had reported her to Jennie Formby, Labour’s general secretary, to ensure MPS conducted themselves in a “civil way”.

While Dame Margaret has been threatened with suspension if she repeats the claims, senior Labour figures have attempted to play down the prospect of disciplinary action amid fears it could provoke another public backlash.

Elections to appoint Labour’s next NEC start today, with centrist MPS and party members fearing that as many as eight of the nine posts could be filled with far-left or Momentum candidates. At least five members seek reelection, while several have stoked controversy in the past by playing down Labour’s anti-semitism problem.

Concerns have also been raised by the Community Security Trust, which reported 34 incidents this year referring to Labour. It noted these coincided with “trigger events” – such as heightened conflict in the Middle East or Mr Corbyn’s apparent endorsement of a mural appearing to legitimise anti-semitic discourse on social media.

After the mural incident, Mr Corbyn said: “I am opposed to the production of anti-semitic material of any kind, and the defence of free speech cannot be used as a justification for the promotion of anti-semitism.”