Telegraph correct “significantly misleading” Corbyn anti-Semitism story
Jack Mendel is the former Online Editor at the Jewish News.
The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) has censured the Telegraph over a “significantly misleading” headline, which ‘distorted’ comments made by a Jewish MP about Jeremy Corbyn, writes Jack Mendel.
In a page two story printed in August, the paper claimed Ivan Lewis MP criticised the new Labour leader as being an ‘anti-Semite’.
Originally titled ‘Labour grandees round on ‘anti-Semite’ Corbyn’’, the article quotes a piece Lewis wrote. He was quoted as having said: “Some of his stated political views are a cause for serious concern.”
“At the very least he has shown very poor judgment in expressing support for and failing to speak out against people who have engaged not in legitimate criticism of Israeli governments but in anti-Semitic rhetoric.”
He was also quoted as having written: “It saddens me to have to say to some on the left of British politics that anti-racism means zero tolerance of anti-Semitism, no ifs, and no buts. I have said the same about Islamaphobia and other forms of racism to a minority of my constituents who make unacceptable statements.”
Lewis complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), accusing the paper of misrepresenting these comments, to imply he had said Corbyn was anti-Semitic.
Ipso agreed said the Telegraph had “prominently and without qualification” claimed the Labour leader was anti-Semitic.
“The coverage was therefore significantly misleading.. The newspaper had distorted [Lewis’s] comment on this issue,” according to the Guardian.
The Telegraph has been ordered to publish a correction online and print, a “front-page reference”, as the story appeared on the front.
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