Jewish MP Dame Margaret Hodge today vowed to “step up action” on Jeremy Corbyn to root out Labour Party anti-Semitism as the crisis worsened.
Reports on leaked Labour documents claim the party’s system for dealing with accusations of anti-Semitic behaviour has been beset by delays and interference from the leader’s office.
In a Sunday Times report, Thomas Gardiner, who heads Labour’s governance and legal unit, is alleged to have held up efforts to fast-track an investigation into a member who posted offensive messages accusing Dame Margaret, right, and MP Ruth Smeeth of being “in the pay of Israel”.
Labour denies Mr Gardiner held up the complaint.
Dame Margaret told the Standard today: “I’m going to carry on calling it out and it’s in the leader’s gift to eradicate anti-Semitism and demonstrate there is zero tolerance.”
In an interview with LBC radio this morning, she added: “We want to step up in the action we’re taking.”
Alongside the Jewish Labour Movement, which last night voted to remain affiliated to the Labour Party, she is calling for Mr Corbyn to set up an independent complaints system and make public evidence they send to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which is currently considering whether to launch a formal investigation.
She also called for the suspension of Mr Gardiner pending an investigation.
A Labour Party source said: “The emails show Thomas Gardiner arguing for an anti-Semitism complaint to be recorded as anti-Semitism and to ensure the case is dealt with through the fast-tracked anti-Semitism procedures. This is the opposite of what the Sunday Times claim.”
The Jewish Labour Movement also passed a motion of no confidence in Mr Corbyn at the same meeting.
