Labour anti-Semitism becomes a tsunami

LAST week, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell urged Labour to undertake a ‘mammoth listening exercise’ to end the scourge of anti-Semitism. But yesterday, the foul torrent engulfing the party became a tsunami.

Entirely predictably, the suspension of Jeremy Corbyn’s arch- acolyte Chris Williamson for claiming it wasn’t a real problem opened the floodgates.

First, the hard-Left Labour Representation Committee – president, one J McDonnell – insisted anti-Semitism in the party was a ‘fiction’. The anti-Williamson backlash, it said, was fuelled by Blairites, the media and – surprise, surprise – ‘the Israel Lobby’.

Next, a Labour MP revealed Mr Corbyn had ‘done all he could’ to block the move. Hardly shocking, given the leader’s penchant for cosying up to virulent Jewhaters including Hamas and Hezbollah.

Finally, Mr Williamson dug himself further into his hole, thanking fanatics for their ‘incredible solidarity’, then tweeting a video of a 1960s US civil rights anthem. No wonder deputy leader Tom Watson bemoaned the worst days of shame in Labour’s 120-year history.

From this once-great party, the stain of anti-Semitism will never be eradicated while Mr Corbyn tacitly condones such toxic bile.