Labour politicians join protesters amid Corbyn anti-Semitism row
LABOUR POLITICIANS joined hundreds of protesters outside Parliament last night after Jewish community leaders accused Jeremy Corbyn of siding with anti-Semites “again and again”.
The Labour leader faced calls to resign from those gathered at the demo, organised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council. Mr Corbyn has written to both organisations, apologising for the “pain and hurt” caused by instances of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party.
Jonathan Goldstein, chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, said: “Anti-Semitism has no place whatsoever in a mainstream political party”, to which the crowd replied “Hear, hear”.
Addressing those gathered on Parliament Square, Westminster, he said: “It’s a scourge on our society, it must be rooted out. So we are here to say to Jeremy Corbyn: ‘Enough is enough. The time for talking is over, the time for words is over, and the time for action has begun. Enough is Enough.”
Labour MPs John Mann, Chuka Umunna, Wes Streeting, Luciana Berger, Stella Creasy, Liz Kendall and John Woodcock were among those attending the protest. Communities Secretary Sajid Javid was also present, the crowd was told.
The politicians left just before 6pm to deliver an open letter from the organisations to the parliamentary Labour Party meeting which was due to begin.
In the letter, Jewish leaders took aim at Mr Corbyn personally, saying he is “repeatedly found alongside people with blatantly anti-Semitic views” but “claims never to hear or read them”.
One placard held by the group read “Jews for Jez”, while in the main crowd a placard reading: “For the many not the Jew” above a drawing of Mr Corbyn could be seen.
A supporter of Mr Corbyn, Abe Hayeem, from Jewish Voice for Labour, said he was protesting against the “orchestrated campaign” against the Labour leader.