Jeremy Corbyn has said not mean to say antisemitism in the Labour party had been exaggerated, in what was his first move to have suspension lifted.
The former leader issued a statement of regret to “clear up any confusion” about his previous claim that the issue had been over-exaggerated by opponents and the media.
The move came as Labour officials were expected to swiftly resolve the disciplinary procedure that saw Corbyn suspended over his reaction to the Equality and Human Rights Commission investigation into the party
Corbyn said he regretted the pain that had been caused though he stopped short of a full apology over the official ECHR finding that antisemitism was prevalent in Labour under his leadership.
He said. “We must never tolerate antisemitism or belittle concerns about it. And that was not my intention in anything I said. I regret the pain this issue has caused the Jewish community and would wish to do nothing that would exacerbate or prolong it.”
In a statement sent to the Labour party he added: “The publication of the EHRC report should have been a moment for the Labour party to come together in a determination to address the shortcomings of the past and work as one to root out antisemitism in our own ranks and wider society,” he said.
“To be clear, concerns about antisemitism are neither “exaggerated” nor “overstated”. The point I wished to make was that the vast majority of Labour party members were and remain committed anti-racists deeply opposed to antisemitism.”
The Facebook post, which was a copy of the statement he had given to Labour, will be seen as the first step towards being admitted back into the party.
He was suspended last month for his comments after the publication of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) report into antisemitism in the party.
Corbyn rejected the overall conclusions and said the problem was “dramatically overstated for political reasons” by opponents and the media.
That set him directly at odds with his Keir Starmer who told a press conference on the day that those who “deny there is a problem are part of the problem … Those who pretend it is exaggerated or factional are part of the problem.”
Corbyn said he supported Starmer’s decision to accept all the EHRC recommendations in full but will be subject to a disciplinary process which might now conclude swiftly to avoid a lasting split.
He added: “I hope this matter is resolved as quickly as possible, so that the party can work together to root out antisemitism and unite to oppose and defeat this deeply damaging Conservative government.”
