Corbyn accused of ‘playing the victim’ in antisemitism row
Labour leader condemned for refusing to apologise to British Jews and justifying his previous actions
JEREMY CORBYN was accused of playing the victim in Labour’s anti-semitism row yesterday as he appeared to backtrack on past apologies during what was described as a “depressing and worrying” interview.
The party leader appeared to rein in his condemnation of an anti-semitic mural, as well as apparently trying to justify comments that some British Jews did not understand “English irony”. Mr Corbyn also declined to apologise to Jewish people when asked to do so during an appearance on the BBC’S Andrew Marr Show at the start of Labour’s annual conference.
Labour MPS later lined up to criticise Mr Corbyn and union chiefs for failing to properly address anti-semitism within the movement. MPS warned the row could cost the party the next general election as they called for Labour to send anti-semitic activists on an educational visit to Auschwitz. They also hit out at “sinister” trade union chiefs.
The comments were made at a packed Jewish Labour Movement fringe event and served as a powerful reminder of the anger felt by many MPS over an issue that has defined the party’s summer.
Previously, Mr Corbyn had profusely apologised for questioning the removal of an anti-semitic mural in East London. Yesterday, however, he did not strongly condemn the mural, which depicted Jewish financiers playing Monopoly on the backs of ethnic minorities, although he acknowledged that he was “too hasty” when appearing to defend it in 2012.
“I was worried about the idea of murals being taken down,” he said. “I was perhaps too hasty in my judgment on that. But it has been taken down and I’m glad it has.”
He also defended comments that accused some British “Zionists” of not understanding “English irony”. He said he had been trying to protect Manuel Hassassian, the Palestinian ambassador; the people he had referred to had been “incredibly disruptive” and “abusive”, Mr Corbyn claimed.
“I felt I should say something in his support. It was not intended to be antisemitic in any way,” he said.
Karen Pollock, the chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, described the BBC interview as “depressing and worrying”.
Last night, Len Mccluskey, general secretary of the Unite union, added to the row when he said that Labour only adopted the official definition of antisemitism as it “eased attacks” on Mr Corbyn. During a speech to a Palestinian Solidarity Campaign event at the conference, he likened the anti-semitism scandal to the “Charge of the Light Brigade” and suggested it had bolstered the Palestinian cause. Referring to Labour finally adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-semitism after weeks of stalling, Mr Mccluskey said: “It was important to make certain that the attacks on Jeremy were eased, so that we could continue the fight.”
Describing Israel as an “apartheid state”, he also criticised Labour MPS for being “quick to run to the Right-wing press”.
Mr Mccluskey’s comments came as Labour MPS launched a series of attacks on Mr Corbyn’s leadership over his handling of the anti-semitism row.
Dame Louise Ellman told the Jewish Labour Movement meeting it was “disgraceful” that the row was still going on and criticised the “sinister” actions of some trade union bosses. She said: “Len Mccluskey spoke about the Jewish community showing ‘truculent hostility’ – truculent hostility – when we speak up against anti-semitism being displayed against us.”
Ian Austin, who faces internal disciplinary action after a clash with Ian Lavery, the party chairman, over antisemitism, said: “I think that Jeremy has got to stop thinking that he is the victim in all of this and he has got to properly explain and apologise for his role and responsibility in the development of this crisis.”
Rosie Duffield, another Labour MP, said the party should send activists who share anti-semitic tropes online to Poland to learn about the horrors of the Holocaust. And Labour MP Luciana Berger was photographed at the party’s conference yesterday with a police es- cort after her departure from the Jewish Labour Movement rally, following reports last month that the movement had offered bodyguards to Jewish Labour MPS over fears for their safety.
Mr Corbyn did not attend the Jewish Labour Movement event. He was pictured later that day at the “Peace in Yemen” vigil, where speakers included Eddie Izzard, the comedian.
♦ Labour’s conference has approved measures to make it easier for Mr Corbyn’s supporters to remove moderate MPS and force them to stand for reelection. Delegates voted to back a National Executive Committee measure that would force Labour MPS to stand against other candidates if just 33 per cent of their local constituency body voted to initiate an open contest.
Until now, MPS only faced a re-selection contest if 50 per cent of a local branch voted for a “trigger ballot”.