Corybn under fire over NEC member

Jeremy Corbyn is facing pressure to act after a member of the party’s ruling body was recorded making “disgusting” comments about Jews.

Peter Willsman called some members of the Jewish community “Trump fanatics” and suggested they were “making up” problems about antisemitism in the party.

Jewish leaders called for Labour to expel the National Executive Committee (NEC) member and raised questions about whether the party leader had been present at the meeting where the comments were made.

Labour former minister Yvette Cooper said Mr Willsman’s remarks were “appalling” and urged Mr Corbyn to ask him to stand down as a candidate in internal party elections.

Labour deputy leader Tom Watson described the National Executive Committee member as a “loudmouthed bully”, while Jewish Labour Movement chairwoman Luciana Berger said the comments were “sickening”.

Mr Willsman said he “deeply apologised” for any offence caused by the comments, but insisted that not all of what he said had been “accurately reported”.

Labour said it did not comment on individual cases.