‘Labour’s front bench are a genuine danger’

Conservative Party Chairman speaks about antisemitism, Islamophobia, abuse and keeping Jeremy Corbyn out of Downing Street

should have robust debate. I will take on Diane Abbott every day that she cannot add up. But it has to be about policy, not personality or any other kind of abuse.”

But while Labour has failed to deal with its own crisis over Jew-hatred, I suggest to Mr Lewis that his own party is facing increasing attacks that it has failed to deal with a rising tide of Islamophobia within its ranks, most infamously from the former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson about Muslim women wearing the full burqa.

“In terms of Islamophobia, since I stated we have had 10, maybe 11, cases. All have been dealt with.

“Whether it’s that somebody has a particular colour skin, wears glasses, is a woman — I will not tolerate that kind of abuse.

“The best way to deal with this is to send a very clear message — we just will not tolerate it.”

In a clear reference to the investigation launched by the party into Mr Johnson’s comments, he says: “I can’t comment on individual cases, but every case we have had this year we have dealt with.”

But Mr Lewis is more guarded over the recent decision made by Conservative MEPs to vote with the Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán against European Union action to protect the rule of law in his country.

The Board of Deputies were among communal groups to rebuke the party, saying it was “very concerning” that the Tories had backed Mr

Orbán’s gov-