New anti-Semitism row as Corbynista MP says Israel may fund rebels
LABOUR was plunged into a fresh anti-Semitism crisis yesterday after one of its MPs suggested that a breakaway rebel group was backed by Israel.
Ruth George was forced to apologise for her “poorly worded” attack after being accused of “lazy smears”.
Seven MPs quit on Monday over the leadership’s failure to tackle anti-Semitism in the party as well as the direction it is taking under Jeremy Corbyn.
The Independent Group, which includes Jewish MP Luciana Berger, is not yet a political party so does not have to disclose how it is funded.
Ms George, a keen supporter of Mr Corbyn, suggested it was “possible” the group was being supported by the Israeli government.
The MP for High Peak in Derbyshire posted on Facebook: “support from the State of Israel, which supports both Conservative and Labour ‘Friends of Israel’, of which Luciana was chair, is possible”.
She said she “would not condemn those who suggest it, especially when the group’s financial backers are not being revealed”.
Conservative MP Simon Clarke said Ms George’s comments were “staggering”.
He added: “All the lazy conflation of smears about Israel, Jewish MPs and those who dare to criticise the hideous state of the Labour Party on display in full Technicolor.”
Ms George later said: “I unreservedly and wholeheartedly apologise for my comment.”
Labour said it was “right that Ruth George has apologised for these offensive remarks”.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has called for a “mammoth
listening exercise” as the party prepared for yet more MPs to leave.
Intolerance
Former minister Ian Austin said he is considering quitting over the culture of “extremism, antiSemitism and intolerance” in the party and is likely to make a decision by the end of the week.
Some Tory MPs are also believed to be considering jumping ship.
Other Labour MPs believed to be on the brink, including former leadership hopeful Liz Kendall, are understood to have made it clear they will remain.
The seven MPs who quit are expected to make an announcement about who will become their leader soon. One of the group, Chuka Umunna, signalled that a new centre party could be formally created by the end of the year.
He said: “I would like to see us move as quickly as possible.”
Mr Umunna added: “There needs to be an alternative, so that’s perfectly possible. But I don’t get to determine this.”
Mr Corbyn said the MPs had been elected on a Labour manifesto.
He said: “Anyone who thinks they are not being consulted are not taking up, in my view, the opportunities that are available there and open and ready for them at all times to do that. I’m always prepared to discuss policies with people in the party and I do all the time.”
He added: “I recognise that leading the party means you have got to take people with you and I am determined to do that so that we can, when an election comes, present those policies and that determination to the public as a whole.”
Mr McDonnell played down suggestions that as many as 36 Labour MPs had been considering a split.
He said the “only disagreement we have had within the party is around how we handle Brexit and I think we are bringing people together on that”.