Corbyn in apology for Holocaust Day event

Calls for Labour to take a harder line against antisemitism have intensified after Jeremy Corbyn apologised for sharing a platform with people who reportedly compared Israel to the Nazis.

Mr Corbyn issued the apology after it emerged that he had hosted a Holocaust Memorial Day event in 2010 at which speakers are said to have likened the actions of Israel in Gaza to Hitler’s regime.

The Labour leader acknowledged that he had appeared alongside people “whose views I completely reject” and apologised for the “concerns and anxiety” that caused.

He said :“the main speaker at this Holocaust Memorial Day meeting, part of a tour entitled ‘never again – for anyone’, was a Jewish Auschwitz survivor. Views were expressed at the meeting which I do not accept or condone.

“In the past, in pursuit of justice for the Palestinian people and peace in Israel/ Palestine, I have on occasion appeared on platforms with people whose views I completely reject. I apologise for the concerns and anxiety that this has caused.”

Labour MP John Mann insisted Mr Corbyn went against “normal decency” with the 2010 meeting.

Mr Mann said it was “extraordinary” that the Labour leader had held a “protest event” on Holocaust Memorial Day.

Labour MP Stephen Kinnock tweeted: “This is now a full blown crisis for our party.”