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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Politics
Jacob Jarvis, Bonnie Christian

Police investigate anti-Semitic banner hung up outside Labour Party conference in Brighton

Police are investigating a banner hung outside the Labour Party conference, which is taking place in Brighton. (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

Police are investigating an anti-Semitic banner that has been put up outside the Labour Party conference in Brighton.

A photo has emerged on social media of the cartoon hanging on a fence outside the Brighton Centre on Sunday.

A leaflet showing a laser weapon destroying the Jewish Labour flag and a call to "rid our party of the Jewish Labour Movement" is also reportedly circulating at the conference.

The banner's cartoon depicts Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn gesturing at a podium that bears the Palestinian flag and the writing: “Palestinian Rights”.

Behind him, a man bearing similarity to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can be seen in a blue jet emblazoned with a Star of David and the words: “The Lobby”, as it releases a missile with the word “defamation” written across it.

A speech bubble coming from the man in the jet reads: “Anti-Semite! Anti-Semite! Anti-Semite!”

Beside the cartoon, a caption reads: “IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance): Tell the NEC (Labour National Executive Committee) how you feel.”

A person who posted the photo online said: “Horrendous to see an anti-Semitic cartoon outside @UKLabour conference for the SECOND year running.

“I feel sick and unwelcome, as a Jewish member, to have to walk past this racist bile on the way into conference.”

Seb Dance MEP, speaking at the Jewish Labour Movement rally, said: "I was appalled when I turned up at the conference today to see two disgusting cartoons.

"I am pleased to say the police have removed these."

While Stella Creasey voiced her anger saying: "Why has there not been a queue to tear down these posters from our walls in shame?"

In a statement, Sussex Police said: “We are aware of the strength of feeling around a banner being displayed outside the @LabourParty conference at the #Brighton Centre today.

“We do have officers present and are dealing with the matter.”

The Labour Party has been marred by claims that some of its members have expressed anti-Semitic views.

In 2016, Mr Corbyn announced an independent inquiry into anti-Semitism and other forms of racism in the party.

The inquiry reported that while the Labour Party was not "overrun" by anti-Semitism, there was an "occasionally toxic atmosphere" and made recommendations about how to deal with this.

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