Labour anti-Semitism is INVENTED by Tory trolls - shock claim by Corbynite Labour MP
CORBYNITE MP Chris Williamson claimed antisemitism in the Labour Party is a Tory plot in an extraordinary tirade on Sky News.
Chris Williamson slams table during anti-Semitism debate
Labour’s Mr Williamson suggested Conservative supporters have posed on social media as lefties and posted anti-Semitic comments to smear Labour leader, Mr Corbyn.
He said: “I have seen evidence of right-wing trolls, who are setting themselves up as pro-Labour, pro-Jeremy Corbyn individuals, on social media, who claim to be Labour supporters, and have then used that platform to make anti-semitic, horrible and abusive remarks.”
Mr Williamson did not provide evidence for the remarks.
But the outspoken Labour MP rejects outright the notion that Labour has a problem with antisemitism and claimed the Conservatives are far more hostile to the Jewish community than Mr Corbyn.
He said: “The Conservative Party has official links with openly anti-Semitic political parties in the European Union.
“Antisemitism afflicts the Conservative Party.”
In alleging the Conservatives have a greater problem with anti-semitism than the Labour Party, Mr Williamson put himself at odds with the Jewish Board of Deputies, publication the Jewish Chronicle, thousands of Jewish protestors in Westminster - and Mr Corbyn, himself, who confessed that “pockets of antisemitism” exist on the left-wing of British politics.
The row over Labour antisemitism began after Mr Corbyn became Labour leader and was found to have posted supportive remarks about an anti-Semitic mural on Facebook.
Chris Williamson reckons Labour's A-OK
Since then, Mr Corbyn has appeared slow to condemn antisemitism and ally himself with the Jewish community.
But last month, thousands of Jews marched on Parliament Square demanding that #EnoughIsEnough, as reports of Labour members in Haringey, Bristol West and elsewhere suggested antisemitism is on the rise among the opposition.
But Mr Williamson added: “The Labour Party has a proud record of standing up to racism.
“Let’s not try to turn it into a political football.”Former Conservative Education Secretary and Loughborough MP, Nicky Morgan, blasted Mr Williamson for his remarks.
Ms Morgan praised Labour MPs, who spoke movingly about their experiences of anti-semitism on the British Left at a debate in parliament on Tuesday.
She said: “People need to understand the extraordinary scenes that we have seen, including a truly remarkable speech from Ruth Smeeth.”
Ms Morgan went on to blast “people giving the Labour MP Luciana Berger a hard time.”
She told Mr Williamson: “Labour members of Bristol West who made the Labour MP Thangam Debbonnaire pass a motion - or wanted to criticise her - for attending a rally about anti-semitism in Parliament Square are nothing to do with the right. Call them out.”Mr Williamson responded by banging his fist on the table and talking over Ms Morgan.
He said: “Just a minute, Nicky, let me finish.
“It’s like being in a parallel universe.”
Nicky Morgan quipped: “Your parallel universe, Chris.
“Get rid of Ken Livingstone!
“Do you support Ken Livingstone being expelled from the Labour Party?”
Mr Williamson - who maintained that he abhors antisemitism - responded: “It’s a matter for due process in the Labour Party.”