UK Labour suspends ex-leader Corbyn on anti-Semitism 'day of shame'

[webfact]

UK Labour suspends ex-leader Corbyn on anti-Semitism 'day of shame'

By Alistair Smout

 

Britain's Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks during the debate on the Queen's Speech in the House of Commons Chamber, in London, Britain December 19, 2019. ©UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Handout via REUTERS/Files

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Labour opposition suspended its former leader Jeremy Corbyn on Thursday after he downplayed a report that detailed serious failings in the party's handling of persistent anti-Semitism complaints during his 2015-2019 leadership.

 

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said it had found evidence of political interference in the processing of anti-Semitism complaints, failure to provide adequate training to people handling the complaints, and harassment.

 

"The ... analysis points to a culture within the party which, at best, did not do enough to prevent anti-Semitism and, at worst, could be seen to accept it," the EHRC said.

 

Corbyn's successor, Keir Starmer, said he accepted the findings in full and would implement all the recommended reforms.

 

"It is a day of shame for the Labour Party. We have failed Jewish people... I am truly sorry for all the pain and grief that has been caused," he said. "Never again will we fail to tackle anti-Semitism and never again will we lose your trust."

 

Starmer has been trying to mark a clean break from the Corbyn era on the anti-Semitism issue, but the ruling Conservatives were quick to point out that he had held a senior post as Labour Brexit policy chief under Corbyn.

 

Corbyn, 71, said he did not accept all the EHRC findings, that the scale of the problem had been overstated by the media and by his political opponents, and that his attempts to deal with the issue had been blocked by "obstructive party bureaucracy".

 

After his comments, Labour suspended him.

 

"In light of his comments made today and his failure to retract them subsequently, the Labour Party has suspended Jeremy Corbyn pending investigation," it said in a statement.

 

"SHAMELESS"

Corbyn said he would strongly contest his suspension, calling it a political intervention.

 

"I’ve made absolutely clear that those who deny there has been an anti-Semitism problem in the Labour Party are wrong," he said following his suspension.

 

"It’s also undeniable that a false impression has been created of the number of members accused of anti-Semitism... that is what has been overstated, not the seriousness of the problem."

 

The Board of Deputies of British Jews welcomed the suspension.

 

"Having presided over the descent of a proudly anti-racist party into a party that broke equalities law in its treatment of Jews, his shameless comments today showed that he remains part of the problem and is an obstruction to the resolution of the issue," President Marie van der Zyl said.

 

A veteran campaigner for Palestinian rights who spent decades as an obscure lawmaker on the left-wing fringes of the party, Corbyn shocked the establishment by winning the Labour leadership contest in 2015.

 

But critics, including some Jewish Labour lawmakers and members, said his ascent led to a surge of anti-Semitic comments within the party, with the lines between opposition to Israel and anti-Jewish prejudice becoming blurred.

 

The issue dogged Corbyn throughout his leadership despite his insistence that he opposed all forms of racism including anti-Semitism. Jewish leaders repeatedly condemned his statements as weak and tone-deaf.

 

Corbyn resigned after Labour suffered a heavy defeat by Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservatives in last year's December general election, with Starmer taking over earlier this year.

 

(Additional reporting by Sarah Young and Paul Sandle; editing by Estelle Shirbon and Stephen Addison)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-10-30

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[RichardColeman]

Starmer was a big supporter of Corbyn. If he does not resign also then Labour will be doomed to wander the obscurity landscape for another decade, no matter how much Boris may balls up - or not - covid.

 

The again, maybe they will fold and there will be a new party soon - The Social Democratic Liberal Labour party !

[sammieuk1]

JC was close to tears so was I my ribs are still aching ????

[baansgr]

What about Abbott...that monster needs to go

[colinneil]

1 hour ago, baansgr said:

What about Abbott...that monster needs to go

Why ? Keep her just where she is, then it is guaranteed Labour have no chance of ever getting to be the government.

[vogie]

The problem that Labour has now is Jeremy Corbyn is still regarded to many in the Labour Party as a Pin-Up boy, this will cause even more division that Labour does not need.

Keir Starmer was one of the longest serving members of Corbyns cabinet and obviously knew what was happening but "Starmer doesn't do what's right, he does what is political convenient."

[BritManToo]

I don't believe any of it, Corbyn is innocent.

And suspending him from the party means nothing, he's still an MP, he still gets a wage, expenses and a vote.

If I were him, I'd be starting my own Labour break-away party, or reviving the 'Socialist Labour party', reduce their number of MPs and split their vote with the proletariat.

[whiteman]

I don't believe any of it, Corbyn is innocent.

And suspending him from the party means nothing, he's still an MP, he still gets a wage, expenses and a vote.

If I were him, I'd be starting my own Labour break-away party, or reviving the 'Socialist Labour party', reduce their number of MPs and split their vote with the proletariat.

Edited 1 hour ago by BritManToo

 

What you been drinking what ever it is give it up

[Pattaya Spotter]

I thought only conservatives like Johnson and Trump are anti-semitic...well at least that's what the media is always telling us.  

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

Why ? Keep her just where she is, then it is guaranteed Labour have no chance of ever getting to be the government.

 

I've often suspected Diane Abbott is a type of shill, cunningly planted in the Labour party by Jacob Rees Mogg and Dominic Cummins to ensure that Labour can never gain power again. It's proving an effective strategy ???? .

 

On the anti Semitism claims, it's no surprise to me. These Woke virtue signallers, the one's who shout the loudest about their own morality, are often the shadiest of characters. I suspect that Starmer also has many skeletons in his closet, he's definitely a wrong'un.

[JusticeGB]

The knives will be out for Kier Starmer. Jeremy Corbyn has many left wing radical friends who believe Starmer is a Tory.

[evadgib]

3 hours ago, vogie said:

The problem that Labour has now is Jeremy Corbyn is still regarded to many in the Labour Party as a Pin-Up boy, this will cause even more division that Labour does not need.

Keir Starmer was one of the longest serving members of Corbyns cabinet and obviously knew what was happening but "Starmer doesn't do what's right, he does what is political convenient."

My concentration wanes whenever he's at the dispatch box because (vocally) he's a dead ringer for Andi Peters! ????

[JCauto]

3 hours ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

I thought only conservatives like Johnson and Trump are anti-semitic...well at least that's what the media is always telling us.  

Man observes media reports describing Anti-Semitism on the Left and wonders whether this will spur the media to finally report on this phenomenon. News at 11.

[Baerboxer]

4 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I don't believe any of it, Corbyn is innocent.

And suspending him from the party means nothing, he's still an MP, he still gets a wage, expenses and a vote.

If I were him, I'd be starting my own Labour break-away party, or reviving the 'Socialist Labour party', reduce their number of MPs and split their vote with the proletariat.

 

The could call themselves the Socialist Workers Party, or Momentum. Oh er, they've tried those already!

 

Corbyn denies any reality he doesn't like, always has and always will. Time the old fossil was retired.

[dexterm]

So that's two rival Labor leaders Starmer has now managed to get rid of with over the top reactions.

 

Corbyn has spent his whole life fighting racism and social injustice.

 

Starmer is simply doing the backstabbing and bidding of the pro Zionist Labor lobby, perhaps because he is an avowed Zionist himself
“I support Zionism without qualification.”
https://www.timesofisrael.com/uk-jewish-groups-say-new-labour-leader-failing-to-crack-down-on-anti-semitism/

 

Here is the real reason the Zionist Starmer has shafted Corbyn
OP "[Corbyn] A veteran campaigner for Palestinian rights who spent decades as an obscure lawmaker on the left-wing fringes of the party, Corbyn shocked the establishment by winning the Labour leadership contest in 2015."

 

But Starmer will probably split the party in the process to make them unelectable, so that the Conservatives, where the real anti Semites hide (no inquiry there note!), can continue to cosy up to Israel to stifle Palestinian human and civil rights.

[Geordieabroad]

So Corbyn has been suspended for being anti Jewish. But for years he and Abbott have been anti white/British and nothing happens. What a mess British politics has become, glad i'm in Thailand

[Nigel Garvie]

5 hours ago, dexterm said:

So that's two rival Labor leaders Starmer has now managed to get rid of with over the top reactions.

 

Corbyn has spent his whole life fighting racism and social injustice.

 

Starmer is simply doing the backstabbing and bidding of the pro Zionist Labor lobby, perhaps because he is an avowed Zionist himself
“I support Zionism without qualification.”
https://www.timesofisrael.com/uk-jewish-groups-say-new-labour-leader-failing-to-crack-down-on-anti-semitism/

 

Here is the real reason the Zionist Starmer has shafted Corbyn
OP "[Corbyn] A veteran campaigner for Palestinian rights who spent decades as an obscure lawmaker on the left-wing fringes of the party, Corbyn shocked the establishment by winning the Labour leadership contest in 2015."

 

But Starmer will probably split the party in the process to make them unelectable, so that the Conservatives, where the real anti Semites hide (no inquiry there note!), can continue to cosy up to Israel to stifle Palestinian human and civil rights.

 

Before addressing this above, I have to say the ideas that the TV expat brigade have on the Labour Party recent and current history are hilarious. Dianne Abbott (Who obviously gets some people worked up) is a powerless back bencher, and no longer relevant, just for one example.

 

Yes indeed the far left have been working hard to polish up the "Starmer is a Zionist" line. Clever selective editing, but utter bs. 

 

"Corbyn has spent his whole life fighting racism and social injustice."  yes yes yawn. No complaints of anti semitism before he lead the party, and masses since.  Well well must all be some Blairite plot to get at the messiah. The far left even got together their own "Report" to cover their <deleted> when they EHRC inquiry was looming. Ah.......the EHRC must be biased. 

 

JC is not an anti semite per se, I would certainly agree. Unfortunately there was no real attempt during his time in power to stem the truckloads of vile social media troll filth directed at ordinary decent Labour MPs etc who happened to be Jewish (Though not in anyway supporters of the despicable actions of the current Israeli government).

 

"But Starmer will probably split the party in the process to make them unelectable,"  The possibility of serious harm to the LP on this issue is real, but it was already there. Corbyn's continuing attempt to pretend it was all a conspiracy against him are beyond pathetic, he is splitting the party. Apart from that he made the LP unelectable, the worst election result for 80 years, who got that?

 

[Morch]

11 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I don't believe any of it, Corbyn is innocent.

And suspending him from the party means nothing, he's still an MP, he still gets a wage, expenses and a vote.

If I were him, I'd be starting my own Labour break-away party, or reviving the 'Socialist Labour party', reduce their number of MPs and split their vote with the proletariat.

 

Starting a new party to what end? Making sure Labour remains in opposition longer? Satisfying his ego?

[Morch]

10 hours ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

I thought only conservatives like Johnson and Trump are anti-semitic...well at least that's what the media is always telling us.  

 

I thought posters who followed related news would know better.

[Morch]

6 hours ago, dexterm said:

So that's two rival Labor leaders Starmer has now managed to get rid of with over the top reactions.

 

Corbyn has spent his whole life fighting racism and social injustice.

 

Starmer is simply doing the backstabbing and bidding of the pro Zionist Labor lobby, perhaps because he is an avowed Zionist himself
“I support Zionism without qualification.”
https://www.timesofisrael.com/uk-jewish-groups-say-new-labour-leader-failing-to-crack-down-on-anti-semitism/

 

Here is the real reason the Zionist Starmer has shafted Corbyn
OP "[Corbyn] A veteran campaigner for Palestinian rights who spent decades as an obscure lawmaker on the left-wing fringes of the party, Corbyn shocked the establishment by winning the Labour leadership contest in 2015."

 

But Starmer will probably split the party in the process to make them unelectable, so that the Conservatives, where the real anti Semites hide (no inquiry there note!), can continue to cosy up to Israel to stifle Palestinian human and civil rights.

 

It's a conspiracy, there there.

While it's tempting to ignore yet another attempt to hijack topics in service of your agenda, got to wonder about the 'reasoning' behind the last bit. According to your post, the conservatives (and therefore, allegedly, the 'real anti Semites') cosy up to Israel. Somehow, that's not quite what I'd expect from real anti Semites. Maybe need to check and see if they aren't fake anti Semites. Can't trust people these days.

[RayC]

12 hours ago, vogie said:

"Starmer doesn't do what's right, he does what is political convenient."

Says the man who has Johnson as his avatar.....

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, Morch said:

 

Starting a new party to what end? Making sure Labour remains in opposition longer? Satisfying his ego?

Revenge for chucking him out, he should destroy them forever.

[Morch]

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Revenge for chucking him out, he should destroy them forever.

 

He''ll damage them some, at best. Is that good enough? I dunno. Would have thought someone so deeply ideological as this guy would bite the bullet rather than service his ego.

[vogie]

9 minutes ago, RayC said:

Says the man who has Johnson as his avatar.....

Says the man that has the letter R as his. Stick to the topic instead of attacking a poster via his avatar.

 

[Morch]

4 minutes ago, vogie said:

Says the man that has the letter R as his. Stick to the topic instead of attacking a poster via his avatar.

 

 

How about attacking the avatar via his poster, though?

[BritManToo]

1 minute ago, Morch said:

He''ll damage them some, at best. Is that good enough? I dunno. Would have thought someone so deeply ideological as this guy would bite the bullet rather than service his ego.

Are you suggesting Trotsky, Lenin and Stalin weren't deeply ideological?

[Morch]

13 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Are you suggesting Trotsky, Lenin and Stalin weren't deeply ideological?

 

I'm sure I haven't mentioned any of them. Did you have a point?

[BritManToo]

5 minutes ago, Morch said:

I'm sure I haven't mentioned any of them. Did you have a point?

The point being communists often put their person and their disagreements before their ideology.

And it's unlikely Corbyn is any different.

[JonnyF]

42 minutes ago, vogie said:

Says the man that has the letter R as his. Stick to the topic instead of attacking a poster via his avatar.

 

I think the Capital C in his username is more descriptive of his personality than the R.

[samsensam]

 

he didn't have to say anything, he could have made a neutral comment, but no, he has to make a critically negative comment, fully aware of what the consequences would be - the labour leadership had spoken to him prior to the report being released. he just couldn't help himself, he deserves everything he gets. what's sad is he seems intent on causing disharmony within the party he has been a member of all his life. his face was a picture though!