Corbyn’s inner circle interfering in anti-Semitism cases, says MP

A SENIOR Labour MP has accused members of Jeremy Corbyn’s inner circle of interfering in the outcome of anti-Semitism cases to reduce the sanction imposed.

Dame Margaret Hodge claimed Mr Corbyn had either misled her or been misled himself about the extent of his team’s involvement in cases.

She accused Mr Corbyn of promising a “zero tolerance approach” but did not demonstrate that if the cases involved his “mates”. Dame Margaret, who is Jewish, has a history of clashes with Mr Corbyn.

Labour insisted that it was “categorically untrue” to suggest that staff in the leader’s office overturned recommendations in cases.

But leaked emails obtained by The Times showed that a member of Mr Corbyn’s team, Laura Murray, last year recommended that MARGARET HODGE: Claimed Mr Corbyn had ‘misled’ her about his team’s involvement in cases.

a woman should be spared suspension after defending a mural which the leader himself had acknowledged was anti-Semitic.

Meanwhile, a senior Tory peer has called for an independent inquiry into “institutional” Islamophobia in the party.

Former Minister Baroness Warsi, of Dewsbury, warned that the party’s failure to address the issue within its ranks risked damaging Conservative chances at the next election.

Lady Warsi, who was the first Muslim woman to have a seat at the Cabinet table, said there was a “deep-rooted problem” in the party and Theresa May had failed to act.

Her intervention came after Tory council candidate Peter Lamb quit after coming under fire for social media comments about Islam. A total of 14 Conservative members were suspended from the party over allegedly Islamophobic comments on the homepage of a Facebook group.

A Conservative spokesman said: “Mr Lamb was investigated and suspended by his local association back in 2017. He has subsequently resigned from the party. Discrimination or abuse of any kind is wrong and will not be tolerated.”