Jeremy Corbyn hits back at former chief rabbi over 'hurtful' Enoch Powell comparison
2 min read
Jeremy Corbyn has said comments by Britain’s former chief rabbi comparing him with the controversial ex-Tory MP Enoch Powell were "hurtful".
A row over anti-Semitism engulfed Labour over the summer after the party initially chose not to adopt an internationally-recognised definition of anti-Jewish racism.
Critics also honed in on past comments made by Mr Corbyn, including a claim that a group of British Zionists had failed to understand English irony.
The remarks prompted Britain’s former top Rabbi to describe the Labour leader as being as “great a danger as Enoch Powell”.
But the Labour leader branded the claim “excessive” and said he grew up watching the negative impact that the late Wolverhamption MP's infamous anti-immigration “rivers of blood” speech had on communities.
Speaking at the start of Labour’s autumn conference in Liverpool, he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "I do actually find that quite hurtful and quite offensive.
“I grew up in the West Midlands, I remember what Enoch Powell was doing, I was in Jamaica when he made his speech and I saw the effects of it on relations there.
“And I say to Rabbi Sacks with all due respect, that is beyond excessive, let’s park that one.”
He added: “I am an anti-racist and will die an anti-racist. Anti-Semitism is a scourge in any society. I have opposed it all my life and I will continue to oppose it all my life.”
Mr Corbyn also insisted it was the right of those suffering from racism to define it, as he pointed to Labour’s acceptance of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition earlier this month.
He added: “We have adopted the IHRA definition and the Jewish community have a definition of what anti-Semitism is and that’s been included in Labour party processes.
"And I think anyone who is suffering racism is in a position to define it, be it Islamophobia, anti-Semitism or far-right racism."
Watch Mr Corbyn below:
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