Jeremy Corbyn: Anti-Semitism allegations are not a smear campaign against me
3 min read
Jeremy Corbyn has insisted that criticisms of his handling of anti-Semitism in the Labour party are not a "smear" after his supporters condemned those who raise the issue.
The Labour leader said MPs who protest against the way Labour has dealt with the issue under his leadership are valid, but insisted: "I am not an anti-Semite in any way."
The bitter row over anti-Semitism in the party has erupted again after it emerged Mr Corbyn opposed the removal of a mural showing elderly Jewish men playing Monopoly on the backs of naked workers in a Facebook post in 2012.
That prompted leading Jewish groups to organise a demonstration in Parliament Square on Monday, and which more than 30 Labour MPs attended.
A counter-demonstration organised by pro-Corbyn group Jewish Voice for Labour arguing the claims of anti-Semitism were a “smear” against him also took place just yards away.
The Skwawkbox website emailed MPs who attended the debate demanding answers on when they had supported other racism causes, while David Lammy has faced threats of deselection by local party members for attending the protest.
In an interview with the Jewish News - his first with a Jewish newspaper since becoming Labour leader in 2015 - Mr Corbyn said: “People have the right to speak out and the right to demonstrate...
“I will not tolerate abuse of people for their beliefs.” And he added: “Any abuse that’s done is not done in my name.”
Asked if it amounted to a “smear” to ask him about his past and his alleged links to anti-Semites, Mr Corbyn said: “Of course it’s not a smear, it’s perfectly reasonable to raise any question about one’s public profile activities.”
And he insisted: “I’m not an anti-Semite in any way, never have been, never will be. I’ve opposed racism in any form all my life. It’s the way I was brought up, it’s the way I’ve lived my life.”
However, he stopped short of criticising Jewish Voice for Labour's counter-demonstration.
He said: "JVL are committed to fighting anti-Semitism and making sure there is a Jewish voice in the party. We already have the Jewish Labour Movement. JVL was established last year and I think it is good that we have organisations within the party that are giving that voice to people. I’m not a member of that or JLM, but they’re good people, they are in the party because they love and believe in it.
"I didn’t support either demonstration. I found out they were going on. It’s up to people where and what they demonstrate about. I don’t think it’s my job to tell people what they should or shouldn’t demonstrate."
But Jewish News editor Richard Ferrer said Mr Corbyn’s comments were “massively underwhelming”.
“He’s squandered a wonderful opportunity to speak to the Jewish community in a week when they needed it most,” he added.
Jennifer Gerber, director of Labour Friends of Israel, said: "Nothing in this interview reassures me that Corbyn understands or takes seriously the crisis of anti-Semitism under his leadership.
"He was offered multiple chances to condemn or distance himself from those accusing the Jewish community of smears and refused to do so. He has failed to even live up to the promises he himself made earlier this week and it is clear that his zero tolerance approach to anti-Semitism is nothing of the sort."
Meanwhile, chair of the Labour disputes panel Christine Shawcroft was forced to quit last night after it emerged she wanted to overturn the suspension of a council candidate accused of denying the Holocaust.
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