Former Jewish Labour MP Ruth Smeeth held nothing back at a deputy leadership husting yesterday, as she savaged candidates for not standing up or speaking out during Labour’s Antisemitism scandal. Two of them are still refusing to sign the Board of Deputy’s pledges…
During the mauling, Smeeth claims that for raising the issue of Antisemitism, she was dismissed, shouted at and shouted at in her own office – including by some of those standing for election – saying it is a “disgrace” the fight was left exclusively to female Jewish MPs. As Guido revealed yesterday, Rebecca Long-Bailey is still featuring Antisemites in her campaign videos, so he can’t imagine Ruth is too optimistic for the future of the Labour Party…
Anti No Deal centrist Labour MP Ruth Smeeth conceded last night on the BBC’s Westminster Hour that her postbag was “75%” filled with pro-No Deal letters. She still opposes the policy but recognises the strength of feeling outside of London, saying the general public “just desperately want” to deliver Brexit. With Labour’s current policy trajectory, seats like hers will be almost certain to be lost to a more pro-Brexit Tory party…
Labour’s response to Corbyn’s endorsement of a book rife with anti-Semitic conspiracy theories so far has been to release a statement defending the book as a “classic study of imperialism” and sending Rebecca Long-Bailey out on a broadcast round to laugh about the issue. Labour candidates have been suspended for sharing Rothschild conspiracy theories online, this is their woeful response to Corbyn endorsing an entire book of them:
“Jeremy praised the Liberal Hobson’s century-old classic study of imperialism in Africa and Asia. Similarly to other books of its era, Hobson’s work contains outdated and offensive references and observations, and Jeremy completely rejects the antisemitic elements of his analysis.”
Labour MPs have called on Corbyn to explain himself directly, instead of sending out other MPs to defend him and hiding behind statements. Wes Streeting says that “if he wants to defend the indefensible he should go on the airwaves and defend himself”:
My advice to any Labour MP today: refuse to defend Jeremy Corbyn lauding a book containing classic antisemitic tropes. If he wants to defend the indefensible he should go on the airwaves and defend himself. He has a responsibility to explain himself. https://t.co/ioOVhJJ1O3
— Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) May 1, 2019
Stephen Kinnock is “deeply concerned” and calls on Corbyn to “make a public statement or do an interview about the issue”, Ruth Smeeth retweeted the Jewish Labour Movement’s statement calling for Corbyn to “consider his position”. Other moderate Labour big beasts like Tom Watson have ignored the issue altogether so far. Will they stand up and call out something they know is wrong or just turn a blind eye?
Around 50 Labour MPs are currently making their way to Church House in support of Ruth Smeeth, who is giving evidence against Mark Wadsworth in his anti-Semitism disciplinary. pic.twitter.com/YnWolswpnX
— Theo Usherwood (@theousherwood) April 25, 2018
Grim scenes ahead of the Labour HQ hearing on Marc Wadsworth, the Momentum activist who abused Jewish MP Ruth Smeeth in 2016. Smeeth had to be escorted to Southside by Labour colleagues and was told to enter her own party headquarters through the back door to avoid pro-Wadsworth protesters. Chris Williamson has turned up to support Wadsworth…
Confirmed Williamson has appeared to support Wadsworth.
— (((Dan Hodges))) (@DPJHodges) April 25, 2018
… Alongside other Corbynistas claiming anti-Semitism is a smear:
Supporter of Marc Wadsworth says anti Semitism is being weaponised in labour to get rid of Jeremy Corbyn pic.twitter.com/bKgUc32aW3
— kateferguson (@kateferguson4) April 25, 2018
The infamous Tony Greenstein, who was expelled from Labour for using the term “Zio”, is outside Labour HQ telling journalists that Israel “should go”:
The state of Israel “should go” says blogger Tony Greenstein, expelled from Labour, who’s protesting to keep activist Marc Wadsworth in the party pic.twitter.com/jVUE1nH5KT
— Dan Bloom (@danbloom1) April 25, 2018
What is Corbyn going to do about this? Will he even say anything about Williamson?
Most powerful moment of the anti-Semitism debate: Ruth Smeeth reading the anti-Semitic abuse she has received from Corbyn supporters. Remarkable that Corbyn was not there to hear it.
Yesterday, Momentum activist and Guardian journalist Marc Wadsworth made Jewish MP Ruth Smeeth burst into tears amid heckles that she was colluding with the right-wing press. Afterwards, in this extraordinary footage, Corbyn can be seen laughing and shaking hands with Wadsworth as he regales the leader how “I outed Smeeth, bloody talking to the Torygraph this morning.” More concerning, Corbyn tells Wadsworth “I sent you a text about it”. Corbyn clearly knows the activist and had prior communication with him…
