Former Labour MP suspended over Jewish comments
A former Labour MP has been suspended from the party over comments apparently made online about the Jewish community. It comes after a social media post apparently by Jim Sheridan described how he no longer had “respect and empathy” for the Jewish community amid the ongoing row about anti-Semitism. The former Paisley and Renfrewshire North MP, now a councillor in Renfrewshire, was suspended yesterday. A Labour spokesman said: “The Labour Party takes all complaints of antiSemitism extremely seriously and we are committed to challenging and campaigning against it in all its forms. All complaints about antiSemitism are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken.” Scottish Conservative MP Paul Masterton said the comments showed “just how deeply the problem of antiSemitism runs in elements of the Labour Party”. Meanwhile, an Israeli athlete who survived the Munich Olympics massacre has urged Jeremy Corbyn to “disappear” from politics, saying he had “no doubt” he was an anti-Semite. Professor Shaul Ladany condemned Mr Corbyn’s presence at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Palestinian Martyrs’ Cemetery in Tunis.
long-lost family members and friends. Sadly, it is wreath laying that has landed the Labour Party in such a sorry state at the moment. That is because the Labour leader and potential future Prime Minister of the UK, Jeremy Corbyn, has allowed himself and his party to be engulfed by a row over anti-Semitism after pictures of him surfaced laying a wreath at a cemetery in Tunisia in 2014. Critics say photographs suggest the wreath was laid at the graves of PLO leaders, directing the Black September terrorists who carried out the 1972 massacre of Israeli Olympic athletes in Munich. Labour, in turn, insist their leader was remembering those lost in the bombing of the PLO HQ by Israel, condemned at the time, and, more widely, saluting all those who have lost their lives in conflict. So Labour, the official opposition to a Government stumbling onwards to an uncertain Brexit, has spent another week mired in accusations of anti-Semitism. While Corbyn and the Labour Party self-immolate, Theresa May’s ministers are allowed to stagger on, fighting among themselves, already passing the buck for what increasingly looks like a Brexit fiasco. This should have been perfect for Labour. A time to turn the tables on the Tories and surge forward in the polls. Corbynistas, of course, believe their man is being maligned, see conspiracies everywhere and believe he will prevail. But, out there in the real world, where real voters live, constantly denying being anti-Semite is not a good look. He needs to change the story. That should not be too difficult but, while he may look like Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars , the growing suspicion is that Corbyn might only have wan brain cell. And as such, should never, ever be allowed within a mile of No 10. Oh Jeremy Corbyn! Oh indeed!