Cameron tells Corbyn to ‘sort out’ anti-Semitism claims in Labour
David Cameron has taken a swipe at Labour over anti-Semitism claims, calling on Jeremy Corbyn to “sort it out”.
The Prime Minister said anti-Semitism was a signal of “even worse things happening to ethnic groups”.
Labour has been hit by a series of claims of anti-Semitism in recent weeks and earlier this month activist Vicki Kirby was suspended in a row over the issue.
Conservative Mike Freer (Finchley and Golders Green) raised the issue during Prime Minister’s Questions, asking: “Do you agree with me, that all organisations public and private should root out anti-Semitism without hesitation?”
Mr Cameron replied: “I completely agree with you. Anti-Semitism is an absolute cancer in our societies and we should know that when it grows it is the signal of many even worse things happening to ethnic groups and different groups all over our country.
“There is sadly a growth of anti-Semitism in our country and we see it in terms of attacks on Jewish people and Jewish students and it absolutely has to be stamped out. We should all, all of us, whatever organisation we’re responsible for, make sure that happens.
“And I have to say we do see a growth in support for segregation and indeed for anti-Semitism in part of the Labour Party and I’d say to the leader opposite it’s his party, he should sort it out.”
Activist Ms Kirby was probed by the Labour party in 2014 after a series of posts on Twitter in which she apparently suggested Adolf Hitler might be a “Zionist God” and Jews had “big noses”, but was subsequently reinstated with a warning before being suspended again.
Allegations relating to Oxford University Labour Club are also being investigated.
Alex Chalmers, an undergraduate at Oriel College, resigned as co-chairman of the club in February after claiming a large proportion of members “have some kind of problem with Jews” and some sympathise with Islamic militant group Hamas.
A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said later: “There’s been a small number of people who have made anti-Semitic comments, and the Labour Party is cracking down on that.
“We’ve suspended people who have made unacceptable comments. Jeremy has consistently and regularly condemned all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism.”
The spokesman said Labour’s former mayor of Bradford, Khadim Hussain, had been suspended over allegedly anti-Semitic comments.
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