Furious Jewish groups blasted former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn today as he finally admitted he was wrong to downplaying the extent of anti-Semitism in the party
The hard Left icon issued a lengthy mea culpa on Facebook this morning, admitting he had been wrong to criticise an independent report into the scale of racism aimed at Jews.
The official probe by the Equality and Human Rights Commission found Labour was responsible for unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination.
But Mr Corbyn rejected some of the equality watchdog’s findings and claimed the issue had been ‘dramatically overstated for political reasons’ by his critics.
It prompted his suspension from the party and the removal of the whip as an MP, just seven months after he stepped down as Opposition Leader after four-and-a-half tumultuous years in charge.
His case is believed to be going before the party’s ruling National Executive Committee as early as today.
Writing on Facebook this morning he published a statement he privately made to the party that day, acknowledging the ‘pain’ felt by the Jewish community.
But Marie van der Zyl, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews , urged the party to reject his apparent contrition.
‘The Jewish community does not accept this pathetic non-apology from Jeremy Corbyn,’ she said.
‘If the Party wants to show it is serious about tackling anti-Jewish racism, it will consign this statement, just like the culture which led to the EHRC’s damning findings, to the dustbin of history.
The hard Left icon issued a lengthy mea culpa on Facebook this morning, admitting he had been wrong to criticise an independent report into the scale of racism aimed at Jews
Writing on Facebook this morning he published a statement he privately made to the party that day, pledging support for Sir Keir Starmer’s efforts to purge the party of anti-Semites
‘To do otherwise would be a failure of leadership which would risk the Party slipping backwards.’
Mr Corbyn revealed he had given the statement to Labour in an attempt to ‘clear up any confusion’ over his initial response and a broadcast interview given in the wake of the report.
‘We must never tolerate anti-Semitism or belittle concerns about it. And that was not my intention in anything I said this week,’ he wrote.
‘I regret the pain this issue has caused the Jewish community and would wish to do nothing that would exacerbate or prolong it.
‘To be clear, concerns about anti-Semitism are neither ”exaggerated” nor ”overstated”.
The point I wished to make was that the vast majority of Labour Party members were and remain committed anti-racists deeply opposed to anti-Semitism.
‘Keir Starmer’s decision to accept all the EHRC recommendations in full and, in accordance with my own lifelong convictions, will do what I can to help the Party move on, united against anti-Semitism which has been responsible for so many of history’s greatest crimes against humanity.’
Allies of the former party leader had united behind him, demanding the party quash his suspension and threatening a lengthy court battle.
In his message today Mr Corbyn thanked his supporters, adding: ‘I’m grateful to the many thousands of Labour party members, trade unionists, and supporters in Britain and around the world, who have offered their solidarity.
Marie van der Zyl, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews , urged the party to reject his apparent contrition. ‘The Jewish community does not accept this pathetic non-apology from Jeremy Corbyn,’ she said
‘I hope this matter is resolved as quickly as possible, so that the party can work together to root out antisemitism and unite to oppose and defeat this deeply damaging Conservative government.’
Gideon Falter, chief executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: ‘Mr Corbyn’s statement today seeks to recast his comments gaslighting the Jewish community when the EHRC’s report into Labour antisemitism was released.
‘This is a desperate attempt to have his suspension lifted and reveals that he still believes that suspensions are something that happen on the whim of the Leader as it did during his tenure, and not as a result of any due process.
‘If the Labour Party wants to build on the positive step of suspending Mr Corbyn, it must investigate the entirety of our complaint against him under the independent disciplinary process that the EHRC has mandated, and do so within six months.
‘Reinstating Mr Corbyn now would only show that Labour is not serious about tackling anti-Semitism, or is incapable of doing so.’