Shadow minister Dan Carden denies singing anti-semitic lyrics over Beatles song
2 min read
A senior Labour frontbencher has denied changing the lyrics of the Beatles song "Hey Jude" to "Hey Jews" during a late-night bus journey.
Shadow International Development Secretary Dan Carden said he was "categorical" in denying the report by BuzzFeed News, which claimed he adapted the song while on a "raucous" coach journey from the Cheltenham Festival.
It is claimed that Mr Carden, then a junior shadow minister, repeatedly sang the chorus of "Hey Jude" and replace the word "Jude" with "Jews" during the trip on 15 March 2018.
BuzzFeed News reporter Alex Wickham said he was sat behind Mr Carden throughout the coach journey, which also included other MPs and came days after Labour suspended several members over anti-semitic remarks posted online.
Responding to the claim, Mr Carden tweeted: "I have been categorical in my denial about allegations relating to a coach trip some twenty months ago.
"This was a coach full of journalists and MPs. If anyone genuinely believed any antisemitic behaviour had taken place, they would've had a moral responsibility... to report it immediately. Yet this allegation is only made now when a general election is imminent.
"I stand by my record as an anti-racist campaigner. I would never be part of any behaviour that undermines my commitment to fighting racism in all its forms."
But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was "looking into" the allegation.
He said: "Dan Carden has emphatically denied that.
"If it's true it is utterly and totally unacceptable. I am looking into it."
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