A Cabinet minister hit out at Green leader Zack Polanski over antisemitism as the Government sought to ramp up action to tackle it.
Ahead of the May 7 local elections, Communities Secretary Steve Reed accused the Green Party of failing to do enough to tackle antisemitism within its ranks.
Mr Polanski has rejected this claim and the Green Party branded Mr Reed as “desperate” in launching his criticism.
The row erupted as Sir Keir Starmer was launching an all-out attack on the surge in antisemitism blighting Britain.
Appearing on the media round for the Government, Mr Reed said: “We need the Green Party to do what the Labour Party did and kick out members of their party who are openly antisemitic.”
The Streatham and Croydon North MP added on GB News: “In my borough, where my constituency is, two Green Party candidates have been arrested for allegations of stirring up racial hatred, and instead of condemning them, the Green Party has put out a letter saying that the Labour Party is spreading cynical misinformation.”
He said: “These people were arrested for hate crimes targeting the Jewish community. One of them was back out on the doorsteps this weekend.”
Mr Polanski has said that the rise in antisemitism is an “emergency” which needs addressing.
Asked on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg Show whether the Green Party was taking antisemitism seriously enough, he said: “Yes, as I’ve said, it’s not an abstract idea for me, Jewish safety and making sure we tackle antisemitism is incredibly important.
“Now I’m not saying that we’ve got it right, I don’t think any party has, because antisemitism exists in society as does islamophobia and many forms of racism, and it’s important that every political party is always working to bring more training and better vetting.”
Pressed on whether Green candidates arrested for antisemitism were fit to take office, Mr Polanski slammed some of the comments by would-be-councillors as “unacceptable” saying some of them “disgust me”.
He added: “I think there’s a problem with antisemitism in society, we have 4,500 candidates, we have a handful of cases where antisemitism has been accused. One case is one case too many.”
Mr Reed, though, stressed: “Now Zack Polanski, come on, these people are spreading antisemitic hatred. You cannot put them up for election. You cannot back them.
“We only tackle racism by calling it out.”
Mr Polanski explained at the weekend that once candidates are on the ballot paper a party is unable to remove them, adding on the allegations against a few of them: “It’s important that we let the disciplinary process take its – place, and that’s exactly what we have.”
A Green Party spokesperson added: “”Steve Reed and Labour are desperate.
“Out of more than 4500 candidates, a handful have made deeply offensive comments and they are no longer supported by the Green Party.” .”
After the Golders Green stabbings and string of arson attacks on Jewish communities in north London, the Prime Minister summoned civic chiefs to No10 on Tuesday to unleash a ‘whole of society’ response against antisemitism.
Warning that British “values” are under threat, he was urging every Londoner and citizens in the rest of the UK to stand up against the rise in hatred.
“Last week’s terrorist attack in Golders Green was utterly appalling,” he was expected to say.
“But it was not an isolated incident.
“It is part of a pattern of rising antisemitism that has left our Jewish communities feeling frightened, angry, and asking whether this country, their home, is safe for them.”
Sir Keir was set to emphasise that the attacks are a “test of our values,” with Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley warning that the country is now facing an epidemic of antisemitism.
“So, it is not enough to simply say we stand with Jewish communities,” the Prime Minister was due to stress.
“We must show it.
“And that responsibility lies with each and every one of us.
“That is what today is about. Because only by working together, can we eradicate antisemitism from every corner of society.”
At the Downing Street event, leaders from civil society, policing, health, culture and higher education were due to take part in individual roundtable discussions with members of the Jewish community.
Sir Keir was set to say that “every part of society needs to stand up together and refuse to platform hatred or turn a blind eye to extremism”.
Ministers were hosting the sessions which were seeking to galvanise a “whole of society” response with new actions being developed “at pace”.
But the Government has been accused by Jewish leaders in Britain, and by Israel, of being too slow at responding to the growing antisemitism crisis.
The threat to Jewish communities in London has been spiralling at an alarming rate, with synagogues now preparing for a possible chemical weapons attack.
Just days ago, in a startling warning, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch told how it was becoming “fashionable” to be antisemitic at dinner parties in London and other parts of the UK.
Ministers are now considering banning some pro-Gaza marches in London amid concerns that they are fuelling antisemitism.
Mr Polanski has opposed restricting the demonstrations.
He also clashed with Scotland Yard boss Sir Mark after he shared a social media post accusing police officers of using excessive force in detaining the man suspected of carrying out the double stabbing in Golders Green last week.
Sir Mark has told how the officers feared that the alleged attacker may have a bomb and praised their bravery.
Mr Polanski has apologised for raising the issue on social media but has stood by his concerns over how the police responded.
Later on Tuesday afternoon, Sir Keir was also due to convene ministers for a meeting of the Middle East Response Committee.
It was due to focus on the domestic security implications for Britain of Donald Trump’s Iran war.
Britain’s anti-terror laws chief Jonathan Hall KC has strongly pointed the finger at Tehran for the wave of arson attacks on London.
He stressed that there are “indications” that a shadowy group, suspected to be a proxy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is behind the string of recent arsons at Jewish sites in the capital.
The leading lawyer told how Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, may be carrying out the “dirty work” of the Tehran regime by recruiting people in London and other parts of the UK to commit crimes.
After the Golders Green stabbings, more police, including armed response teams, are being deployed to prevent further attacks on Jewish communities in the capital.
The Government has allocated a further £25 million to boost security at synagogues and other Jewish locations.
Ministers are also fast-tracking legislation to proscribe state-linked terror organisations, such as the IRGC or Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia.
