67 Labour peers blast Corbyn's anti-Semitism 'failure' in grim newspaper advert (original) (raw)

The Labour peers accuse Jeremy Corbyn allowing a "toxic culture" - but party chiefs branded it "false and misleading claims by those hostile to Jeremy Corbyn's politics"

The full-page advert in today's Guardian is addressed directly to the Labour leader

More than 60 Labour peers have attacked Jeremy Corbyn's "failure" to stop the spread of anti-Semitism in a national newspaper advert.

The full-page advert in today's Guardian is addressed directly to the Labour leader - accusing him of letting a "toxic culture divide our movement".

In large black font it declares: "The Labour party welcomes everyone* irrespective of race, creed, age, gender identity, or sexual orientation. (*except, it seems, Jews).

"This is your legacy Mr Corbyn."

The advert is signed by 67 Labour members of the House of Lords, including former Tony Blair aide Peter Mandelson, former minister Peter Hain, Robert Winston, and former Labour general secretary Iain McNicol.

But Labour today hit back by claiming the letter contains "false and misleading claims about the Party by those hostile to Jeremy Corbyn's politics".

"This is your legacy Mr Corbyn," it declares

The party, the advert says, is no longer a "safe place" for its members and supporters.

"We are saying you are accountable as Leader for allowing antisemitism to grow in our party and presiding over the most shaming period in Labour's history," it adds.

The peers also accuse Mr Corbyn of not having "opened (his) eyes" or "accepted responsibility" for the row which has engulfed the party.

"We can't be a credible alternative government that will bring the country together if we can't get our own house in order," the advert says.

Former Tony Blair advisor Peter Mandelson is one of the signatories (

Image:

PA)

"Your failure to do the right thing will lead to the failure of the Labour Party being able to make our country a better place for the people and communities we seek to serve."

"You have failed to defend our party's anti-racist values," it adds.

"You have therefore failed the test of leadership."

Lord Hain told Sky News correspondent Tamara Cohen: "I’m a lifelong antiracist and anti-apartheid campaigner and I’m horrified by the disease of antisemitism that has cursed the party and is going on and on.

“It’s basically killing us and that’s why I’m so angry about it.”

Lord Peter Hain also signed the advert (

Image:

AFP/Getty Images)

It comes as a blazing row within Labour over a BBC Panorama documentary on anti-Semitism enters its second week.

Panorama carried allegations that members of Mr Corbyn's inner circle intervened in disciplinary cases, staff were overruled and e-mails were deleted.

But Labour branded the programme misleading and inaccurate, accused former staffers of having "axes to grind", and demanded the show is taken off iPlayer .

Labour's shadow cabinet will hold an emergency meeting next Monday.

And its ruling NEC is set to discuss calls to set up a new independent investigations process following a push by deputy leader Tom Watson.

Labour's NEC is set to discuss calls to set up a new independent investigations process following a push by deputy leader Tom Watson (

Image:

Getty)

Meanwhile a proxy row raged after Mr Watson demanded general secretary Jennie Formby answer questions - only for her to slam the deputy leader for "traducing" her reputation while she undergoes cancer treatment.

Lord Harris of Haringey, chairman of the Labour Peers Group, said yesterday that Mr Corbyn was "not cut out" to be a party leader.

Tory leadership hopefuls Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt both suggested Mr Corbyn may be anti-Semitic - a claim described as a "baseless political attack" by Labour.

Asked to respond to the advert, a Labour spokesman said: " Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party stand in solidarity with Jewish people and are fully committed to the support, defence and celebration of the Jewish community.

“Regardless of false and misleading claims about the Party by those hostile to Jeremy Corbyn's politics, Labour is taking decisive action against antisemitism.

"Jeremy Corbyn has made clear in interviews, videos and articles that there is no place for antisemitism in the Party. Jennie Formby has sped up and strengthened procedures and the rate at which cases are dealt with has increased more than four-fold. Since September 2015, the number of cases that have undergone disciplinary procedures relate to about 0.06% of members."