Jeremy Corbyn gives the impression ‘he is, deep-down, somebody who doesn’t like Jewish people’, says former Archbishop of Canterbury
- Labour leader has repeatedly been accused of failing to deal with anti-Semitism
- Lord Carey has now added his voice to those criticising Corbyn over the issue
- He said Corbyn is failing to condemn members who speak against Jewish people
Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey has said Jeremy Corbyn appears to dislike Jewish people due to the weakness of his statements on the issue of anti-Semitism
The former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey of Clifton has said Jeremy Corbyn gives the impression that ‘he is, deep-down, somebody who doesn’t like Jewish people’.
The Labour leader has come in for repeated criticism for failing to deal with anti-Semitism in his party.
Now, Lord Carey, who was the head of the Anglican church from 1991 to 2002, has added his voice to the many calling for Labour to get a grip on the issue.
Lord Carey told i24News: ‘The weakness of his statements can give the impression that he is, deep-down, somebody who doesn’t like Jewish people.
‘I hope he might say that’s not the case, but I feel he’s not giving clear leadership to his own party in condemning from within his own ranks people who speak out against Jewish people.
‘I would encourage socialists and those in the Labour party to pay attention to what they say about racism and about the influence of Jews within their own party. I think socialism owes such a lot to Jewish thinkers anyway in the past.’
The criticism comes at a difficult time for Mr Corbyn, with a poll of under-34-year-olds, a key group for Labour, showing only 23% approve of his Brexit strategy, with 37% disapproving.
Yesterday’s Holocaust Memorial Day was marked with growing fears about rising anti-Semitism in the UK.
There were 1,414 anti-Semitic incidents in 2017, compared with 541 in 2008, according to Community Security Trust.
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Mr Corbyn has been criticised for failing to deal with elements within his party whose sympathy with Palestine have turned into virulent anti-Israeli feelings.
Last year, Britain’s three leading Jewish newspapers, which warned of the ‘existential threat to Jewish life in this country that would be posed by a Corbyn government’.
Mr Corbyn has previously apologised for hurt caused to Jewish people
Mr Corbyn’s attended at a Passover event hosted by the far-Left group Jewdas, which mocks Israel, in April last year.
He was also criticised over his presence at a ceremony in Tunisia in 2014 that is said to have honoured the perpetrators of the 1972 Munich terror attack, when 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team were killed.
The party leadership then caused controversy by initially refusing to adopt in full the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti-Semitism.
One of Mr Corbyn’s closest allies, Emily Thornberry has insisted he does not have anti-Jewish feelings.
She said: ‘When people accused Jeremy of being an anti-Semite he was so upset, and as a result he has found it difficult to deal with the problem.
‘He hasn’t dealt with it properly but to call him anti-Semitic is wrong.’
Backlash after ex-Labour MP who hit out at Jewish community has his suspension lifted
Jim Sheridan (pictured) – who served as MP for Paisley & Renfrewshire and is now a local councillor – apologised while calling his accusers ‘misguided’
Labour is facing a backlash after lifting the suspension of an ex-MP who hit out online about the Jewish community.
An investigation was launched into Mr Sheridan following a complaint that he had posted on social media about his loss of ‘respect and empathy’ for the community over the anti-Semitism row threatening to engulf Labour.
In a statement, Mr Sheridan – who served as MP for Paisley & Renfrewshire and is now a local councillor – apologised while calling his accusers ‘misguided’.
But Tories condemned the ‘appalling’ decision to reinstate the politician, warning it sent the ‘wrong message entirely’.
In his statement, Mr Sheridan said the party had told him on Friday that ‘no further action’ was being taken.
‘Whilst I am delighted with this decision, I remain of the view that my accusers were misguided and overreacted to what was intended to highlight my personal frustration and criticism of those intent on undermining our leadership in Scotland and the UK,’ he said.
‘I would also like to reiterate my sincere apologies to the Jewish community whose historic struggle I have supported all my political life.’
Mr Sheridan said he had been ‘humbled’ by the level of support he received.
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