Labour accused of preventing progress on anti-semitism with lengthy leadership race

LABOUR has been accused of ignoring anti-semitism as its protracted leadership campaign has prevented a new leader from tackling the issue.

It comes as Mehmood Mirza, the front-runner to become the next BAME representative on Labour’s ruling body, was reported for posting an allegedly anti-semitic cartoon on Facebook.

The member of public who reported Mr Mirza, the vice-chairman of the West Ham Labour Party, has not heard back from the party despite the complaints being made in October last year.

The cartoon in question, which Mr Mirza shared on his Facebook page, depicted a sticker with the words “antisemitism” being placed across the mouth of a man who has a “free Palestine” band around his head. The cartoon was created by Carlos Latuff, a Brazilian artist who has previously been accused of creating anti-semitic content.

Margaret Hodge, the veteran Labour MP for Barking, said that until a new Labour leader is elected in two months’

‘I would expect the new leader, as they have all promised in the hustings, to fulfil their promises’

time, trying to fix the anti-semitism crisis engulfing the party was futile.

“I would expect the new leader, as they have all promised in the hustings, to fulfil their promises and make sure people like him, with those views, have no place on the National Executive,” she said. Dame Margaret’s views were echoed by John Mann, who advises the Government on anti-semitism, who said how the complaint was dealt with was “a test of how serious and sincere the Labour party has become about tackling anti-semitism”.

Euan Philipps, spokesman for Labour Against Anti-semitism, said it was surprising that Mr Mirza was able to stand for election to a senior party role despite being reported to Labour’s governance unit “some four months ago”.

Mr Mirza still appears as a candidate on the party’s official website, though The Daily Telegraph understands he may have been suspended.

“We have repeatedly been told by the Labour Party general secretary Jennie Formby that disciplinary processes related to anti-semitism have been improved. This case suggests the party still has a long way to go,” Mr Philipps said.

Both Labour and Mr Mirza were contacted for comment.