Anti-Semitism is a ‘real threat’ to the Labour party’s survival
... says peer brought in to fix crisis
LABOUR faces a ‘ very real threat’ to its survival because of its failure to tackle antiSemitism, Lord Falconer warned yesterday.
The former lord chancellor said the party could not be seen as an alternative government unless it is ‘absolutely vigorous and effective’ in removing people who are anti-Semitic.
His remarks came after a leaked recording emerged of Jeremy Corbyn admitting that evidence of anti-Semitism in Labour has been ‘mislaid or ignored’.
Mr Corbyn faced further embarrassment last night as the highest-ranking elected member of the US Democratic Party appeared to admonish Labour over its anti-Semitism problem.
After meeting three former Labour MPs who quit the party on a visit to London yesterday, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, declared ‘the importance of standing unequivocally against anti-Semitism wherever it is found’.
Mrs Pelosi met with Chris Leslie and Mike Gapes, who defected to form The Independent Group, and Ian Austin, who now sits as an independent. She tweeted that they had had an ‘important discussion... to hear their perspective on Brexit [and] why they left the Labour Party’. Mrs Pelosi was also due to meet Mr Corbyn last night.
Lord Falconer, who has been asked by the party leadership to hold an investigation into antiSemitism, yesterday warned that it needed to do more to deal with the problem within its ranks.
The former Labour cabinet minister said: ‘There is too much a sense that anti-Semitism is not being properly dealt with. We can’t convince anyone that we’re serious about it unless our process is absolutely vigorous and effective in removing people who are anti-Semitic.’ He added: ‘I think this is a very, very real threat to the party.
‘How can you convince people that you are a serious, moral, decent party if you are antiSemitic? How can you claim to
‘We have to do something about it’
be an alternative government if you are anti-Semitic? We have to do something about it.’
The comments came after The Sunday Times published details of a secretly recorded meeting between Mr Corbyn and Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge in February when he outlined his intention to appoint Lord Falconer to review the party’s complaints process. The newspaper quoted Mr Corbyn saying: ‘The point of him [Falconer] is that he will look at the speed of dealing with cases, the administration of them, and the collation of the evidence before it is put before appropriate panels and things.
‘Because I was concerned that evidence was either being mislaid, ignored or not used and that there had to be some better system.’
A Labour spokesman said the party takes allegations of antiSemitism seriously. He said: ‘This shows Jeremy Corbyn’s desire to make procedures as robust and efficient as possible and to rebuild trust with the Jewish community.’
Dame Margaret told the BBC: ‘The reason, actually, that I recorded that particular tape was as an insurance policy. I was having a one-to- one meeting with Jeremy Corbyn and, ironically, I didn’t want what I said to be misrepresented. So, I thought it was best to record it.’
Labour MP Ronnie Campbell said taping Mr Corbyn was ‘absolutely unacceptable’. He told the BBC: ‘I think it’s deplorable that somebody goes to a private meeting with the leader and records the conversation.’