Jeremy Corbyn and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have shared their visions of the future in a “lovely and wide-reaching” phone conversation.
The Labour leader revealed he had spoken to the newly-elected Democrat on Twitter on Sunday night.
He tweeted: “Great to speak to @AOC on the phone this evening and hear first hand how she’s challenging the status quo. Let’s build a movement across borders to take on the billionaires, polluters and migrant baiters, and support a happier, freer and cleaner planet.”
Two hours later the Ms Ocasio-Cortez tweeted: ”It was an honor to share such a lovely and wide-reaching conversation with you, @jeremycorbyn! Also honored to share a great hope in the peace, prosperity and justice that everyday people can create when we uplift one another across class, race, and identity both at home and abroad.”
The meeting of minds was celebrated by many of Mr Corbyn’s supporters, with teenage student Hasan Patel – who won a scholarship to Eton College last month – describing it as his “wildest dreams come true”.
However Ms Ocasio-Cortez was soon deluged with replies highlighting concerns about allegations of antisemtism in the Labour party.
Jewish writer Elad Nehorai told her: “I’m a huge huge fan of yours. I hope you’ll take a look at the amount of Jews trying to call attention to Corbyn’s long, documented history of anti-Semitism. The left’s blind spot in this regard can still be fixed. But we need leaders like yourself to listen.”
Ms Ocasio-Cortez replied: “Thank you for bringing this to me. We cannot and will not move forward without deep fellowship and leadership with the Jewish community. I’ll have my team reach out.”
The exchange reignited the debate on social media over whether Mr Corbyn was antisemitic or not.
Last month the Catholic congresswoman revealed that she has Jewish heritage as a result of her Sephardic ancestors fleeing from Europe to Puerto Rico “a very, very long time ago”.
The Independent has launched its #FinalSay campaign to demand that voters are given a voice on the final Brexit deal.
Sign our petition here
