Allegations of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party continued to mount yesterday as the party's leadership was criticised by some of its own backbench MPs during a Commons debate.
Dame Margaret Hodge, Labour MP for Barking and the daughter of Jewish refugees, told her peers that she felt like “an outsider in the party I have been a member of for 50 years”.
“I have never felt as nervous and frightened as I feel today at being a Jew,” she added. “It feels that my party has given permission for anti-Semitism to go unchallenged.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Luciana Berger, Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, made a speech in which she said that she had “never seen anti-Semitism as a child”, but that “in 2018, within the Labour Party, anti-Semitism is now more commonplace, it is more conspicuous and it is more corrosive”.
Berger added: “That’s why I have no words for the people who purport to be both members and supporters of our party, who use that hashtag JC4PM, who attacked me in recent weeks for my comments; they attacked me for speaking at the rally against anti-Semitism . . . who say I should be de-selected.”
Both Berger and Hodge received standing ovations for their speeches.
Meanwhile, in what The Times describes as “a highly pointed gesture”, Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson chose to sit on the back benches, between Berger and Stoke-on-Trent North MP Ruth Smeeth, rather than in his usual position on the front bench beside Jeremy Corbyn.
Party leader Corbyn walked out of the debate after around half an hour, although he later returned.
On the opposite bench, Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: “Labour is a noble and honourable party and it is absolutely wrong that this corner of anti-Semitism has been allowed to flourish. [Corbyn] has an obligation to take action. We expect nothing less.”
The debate, which was called by the Government, came as Jewish leaders said they would be boycotting a scheduled meeting with Corbyn next week, after it emerged that “a hard-left group which denies that Labour has a problem with anti-Semitism had also been invited”, reports The Times.
-
The six-seven meme that has taken over the worldIn the Spotlight With roots in rap and basketball, the phrase has young people obsessed, and it could be here to stay
-
Five takeaways from Plaid Cymru’s historic Caerphilly by-election winThe Explainer The ‘big beasts’ were ‘humbled’ but there was disappointment for second-placed Reform too
-
A journey through Trinidad’s wild heartThe Week Recommends Experience the island’s natural wonders, from watching baby turtles hatch to visiting an ancient bat cave
-
Five takeaways from Plaid Cymru’s historic Caerphilly by-election win
The Explainer The ‘big beasts’ were ‘humbled’ but there was disappointment for second-placed Reform too
-
The Chinese threat: No. 10’s evidence leads to more questionsTalking Point Keir Starmer is under pressure after collapsed spying trial
-
Taking the low road: why the SNP is still standing strongTalking Point Party is on track for a fifth consecutive victory in May’s Holyrood election, despite controversies and plummeting support
-
The end of ‘golden ticket’ asylum rightsThe Explainer Refugees lose automatic right to bring family over and must ‘earn’ indefinite right to remain
-
Your Party: a Pythonesque shamblesTalking Point Comical disagreements within Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana's group highlight their precarious position
-
Is Andy Burnham making a bid to replace Keir Starmer?Today's Big Question Mayor of Manchester on manoeuvres but faces a number of obstacles before he can even run
-
Angela Rayner: the rise and fall of a Labour stalwartIn the Spotlight Deputy prime minister resigned after she underpaid £40,000 in stamp duty
-
The runners and riders for the Labour deputy leadershipThe Explainer Race to replace Angela Rayner likely to come down to Starmer loyalist vs. soft-left MP supported by backbenchers and unions
