Maureen Lipman: Jeremy Corbyn sups with the devil
ACTRESS Maureen Lipman has launched a stinging attack on new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, saying he “sups with the devil”.
The former actress Maureen Corbyn has launched a scathing attack on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn
The 68-year-old TV star, renowned for her role as Jewish grandmother Beatie in the British Telecom adverts during the 1980s, accused Mr Corbyn of consorting with anti-Semites.
Writing in the latest edition of the current affairs magazine Standpoint, she describes Mr Corbyn as a man who “sups with the devil but claims no one told him that the horned, red-skinned man at the table was, in fact, the devil”.
Ms Lipman questioned his links with Rev Stephen Sizer, who suggested Israel was behind the 9/11 attacks in New York, Paul Eisen, who denies the Holocaust took place, and author Gilad Atzmon, who has been accused of anti-Semitism.
Ms Lipman said there are serious questions to be asked about the company Corbyn keeps
She also asked why Mr Corbyn joined a protest “to protect the ‘blood libel’ [Islamic] cleric Raed Salah”.
If he is not anti-Semitic himself, he is more than happy to consort with those who are
She said: “I would be grateful for any evidence that he has ever objected to the anti-Semitic rantings of these ‘colleagues’ or stated his own belief in the legitimacy of the Jewish state.
“If he is not anti-Semitic himself, he is more than happy to consort with those who are.”
Ms Lipman, who earlier this year said she was considering quitting Britain because of an alarming rise in anti-Semitic attacks, goes on to criticise Mr Corbyn for his friendly relationship with anti-Israeli terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah.
“He is happy to sit down for a nice chat with Hamas and Hezbollah – with Israel’s views entirely unrepresented – because ‘yesterday’s terrorist is tomorrow’s leader’ and ‘if you don’t talk then you don’t move forward’.”
The 68-year-old vowed never to vote Labour again after denouncing Ed Milliband's stance on Israel
The mother-of-two, who vowed never to vote Labour again after denouncing Ed Miliband’s stance on Israel last year, also aims fire at Mr Corbyn for attending events run by Holocaust deniers – something he was forced to clarify during his leadership campaign.
“The world is in a bad way: cruelty, extremism and chaos abound,” she writes.
“Very little of that is the fault of the Jews.”
Mr Corbyn maintains a friendly relationship with anti-Israeli terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah
Meanwhile, new measures will block councils from boycotting Israeli products or pursuing other foreign policy goals that conflict with the Government.
Conservative aides said the new rules will stop politically-motivated boycotts and divestment campaigns by town halls against UK defence companies and against Israel.
Cabinet Office Minister Matthew Hancock said the action was intended to prevent councils’ “playground politics”