Jewish Labour MP calls Jeremy Corbyn an 'anti-Semitic racist' in furious Commons tirade
3 min read
A Jewish Labour MP called Jeremy Corbyn an "anti-Semitic racist" as tensions within the Labour party on the issue once again burst into the open.
Margaret Hodge launched the furious tirade against the Labour leader following a series of crunch Brexit votes.
The confrontation happened after Labour's National Executive Committee endorsed a controversial new code of conduct on anti-Jewish abuse.
Jewish groups, religious leaders and Labour MPs have reacted angrily after party bosses refused to fully endorse the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism.
But Barking MP Mrs Hodge, who served as a minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, decided to confront Mr Corbyn behind the Speaker's Chair as shocked eyewitnesses looked on.
According to HuffPost, she told him: "You’re a f*****g anti-Semite and a racist. You have proved you don’t want people like me in the party."
The Labour leader responded: "I’m sorry you feel like that."
But a friend of Mrs Hodge insisted she had not sworn at the Labour leader.
"She said 'you are an anti-Semitic racist," said the friend. "When he protested, she said 'it is not what you say but what you do and by your actions you have shown you are an anti-Semitic racist'."
It is understood that Mrs Hodge, who has been an MP since 1994, will be reported to the Labour whips over her behaviour.
The incident once again highlighted the tensions within the party on the issue of anti-Semitism.
On Monday evening, Labour MPs backed a motion calling on the party's NEC to back the IHRA guidelines on the issue.
At a heated meeting on Tuesday, the ruling body decided to uphold general secretary Jennie Formby's decision to introduce a new code of conduct which stops short of fully endorsing that definition.
However, they did agree to hold a consultation on the issue with Jeiwsh groups.
Joan Ryan MP, chair of Labour Friends of Israel, said: "I am appalled at the NEC's decision today which, once again, undermines the claims of Labour's leadership that it intends to tackle the problem of anti-Semitism.
"The NEC has decided to prioritise the rights of those who wish to demonise and delegitimise the state of Israel over the struggle against anti-Semitism. This shameful action is antithetical to Labour's values and its history, and we will campaign relentlessly until it is overturned and the IHRA definition and all its examples are adopted by the party."
But a Labour party spokesperson said: "The NEC upheld the adoption of the code of conduct on anti-Semitism, but in recognition of the serious concerns expressed, agreed to re-open the development of the code, in consultation with Jewish community organisations and groups, in order to better reflect their views."
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