Labour's anti-Semitism fallout LIVE: Corbyn under fire after Commons row

Last night Labour MPs described their experiences of anti-Semitism during a fallout in the Commons.

Luciana Berger was applauded by MPs from all sides as she recalled receiving hate mail when she was 19 which described her as a 'dirty Zionist pig'.

Stoke-on-Trent MP North Ruth Smeeth was given a standing ovation when she read out a series of abusive messages, including: 'Hang yourself you vile treacherous Zionist Tory filth, you're a cancer of humanity' and 'Ruth Smeeth is a Zionist she has no shame and trades on the murder of Jews by Hitler who the Zionists betrayed'.

Ms Berger and other MPs also backed calls for former London mayor Ken Livingstone to be expelled from Labour.

MailOnline brings you the latest updates as the fallout continues today. 

If you are using the app, please click here to view today’s live blog. 

 

 

  • Stewart Paterson

    Host commentator

  • Connor Boyd

    Host commentator

16:45
Sadiq Khan: 'Labour losing voters over antisemitism'

Sadiq Khan reveals he's spoken to a number of Jewish individuals who would like to vote Labour but 'find it very difficult'. 

The London Mayor said: 'Because they're Jewish and there is a perception their party has not dealt with problems of anti-Semitism.'

He added: 'Ken Livingstone said things that were clearly anti-Semitic'. 

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said there is a perception of antisemitism in the Labour party
14:19
New Zealand prime minister to meet with Jeremy Corbyn

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who is also the leader of her country's own Labour Party, told reporters when pressed for her thoughts on Labour's anti-Semitism row and the advice she would offer to help push the UK Labour Party over the line, that she will be meeting Jeremy Corbyn on Saturday.

New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern said she will be meeting Jeremy Corbyn on Saturday
13:35
'Incredible bravery': Theresa May pays tribute to MPs for speaking out on antisemitic abuse
During Prime Minister's Questions, Mrs May paid tribute to Ms Smeeth and Ms Berger for their 'incredible bravery' in speaking out.

Mrs May said: 'I think it is incredibly important for us in political parties in this country to show a very clear signal that we will not accept, we will not tolerate anti-Semitism in any form.

Mrs May paid tribute to Ms Smeeth and Ms Berger for their 'incredible bravery' in speaking out
12:48
'What an absolute car crash!' Tory MP blasts Jeremy Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn was left red-faced after asking the Prime Minister whether she signed off on the decision to destroy Commonwealth citizens' landing cards in 2010 while she was Home Secretary. 

Mrs May responded: 'No, the decision to destroy the landing cards was taken in 2009 under a Labour government.'

12:30
Theresa May hits back at Corbyn

Theresa May hit back at Mr Corbyn after the Labour leader accused the Government of being 'callous and incompetent' following revelations about the Windrush generation.

Mrs May told Prime Minister's Questions: 'I will not take an accusation of callous from a man who allows anti-Semitism to run rife in his party.'

 

The Prime Minister hit back at Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn during Prime Minister's Questions today
Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn accused the Government of being 'callous and incompetent' following revelations about the Windrush generation
Chancellor Philip Hammond and Home Secretary Amber Rudd during Prime Minister's Questions today
11:45
Smeeth shares support video

Ruth Smeeth MP retweets a pro-Jewish Labour video supporting victims of anti-Semitism.

The clip, which calls for racism to be stomped out of the party, comes after the Labour colleague made an emotional speech to MPs last night on her own experiences of abuse.

11:39
Corbyn breaks silence

Jeremy Corbyn thanked the Labour MPs who shared stories of anti-Semitic abuse last night.

In a tweet, the Labour leader said their tales served as a reminder that prejudice needs to be eradicated.

He said there was no excuse for abuse of any kind. 

11:08
Abbott hush on Semitism row during radio chat

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott made no mention of the ongoing anti-Semitism fallout during a radio appearance this morning.

She was interviewed on Radio 4 but didn't bring up the issue which came to boiling point in the Commons last night.

Diane Abbott leaving BBC Radio Studios after being interviewed this morning - she made no mention of anti-Semitism issues in the Labour party
10:35
Calls to expel ex-London mayor from party

Labour MPs called for former London mayor Ken Livingstone to be booted from the party. 

They took aim at Mr Corbyn's ally for claiming Hitler was a Zionist. 

Former minister Ian Austin said Mr Livingstone had been 'comparing, claiming that Hitler was a Zionist' - branding this anti-Semitism 'pure and simple'. 

10:15

The Labour MPs who shared harrowing tales of anti-Semitic abuse last night have suffered a wave of backlash from Corbynistas.

Politicians have been accused of 'stabbing Jeremy Corbyn in the back', faking tears and 'making stuff up' after highlighting problems within the party. 

Read more here

09:55
Diane Abbott booed for stance

Diane Abbott is pictured this morning after being hounded with criticism for 'skimming over' the anti-Semitism row in the Commons last night. 

Louise Ellman accused the Shadow Home Secretary of making a 'grave misjudgement' with her remarks in her closing speech.

Labour colleague Wes Streeting said he feared the wider Jewish community would be 'horrified by the response from our front bench to this debate'. 

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott has been accused of 'skimming over' anti-Semitism topic in Commons last night
09:48
'Three Billboards' protest in London

A 'three billboards' style protest against Labour anti-Semitism was seen around London yesterday.

The convoy of billboards read: 'Holocaust deniers harboured by Labour, failure to act on antisemitism, institutional antisemitism in Corbyn's Labour.' 

A convoy of three billboard advertising vans with an anti-Semitism message for Jeremy Corbyn
The vans were spotted around London yesterday as the row on anti-Semitism heated up
09:38
Poll: 61% say racism exists in Labour

Labour's Chuka Umunna tweets out poll results and says he's worried about racism and prejudice in his party.

The MP for Streatham said everyone in the party should be concerned after 61 per cent of voters said Labour has a problem with racism and prejudice.

09:33
Corbyn defender probed over anti-Semitic posts

An academic who defended Jeremy Corbyn over the anti-Semitism row made social media posts about Jews and Zionism.

Jane Dipple, a lecturer in media and communication at the University of Winchester, commented online about 'a zionist attempt at creating a pure race' and 'rampant zionism across the media,' revealed by HuffPost UK.

She also shared a post by far right website The Daily Stormer with the headline: 'BBC to Replace Male Jew Political Editor with Female Jew'. 

Jane Dipple (above) is embroiled in an anti-Semitic row herself after defending Jeremy Corbyn
09:18
'My wife was threatened with rape by anti-Semite'

Labour's John Mann told the Commons his family was put under threat by a campaign group.

The Bassetlaw MP revealed his wife was 'threatened with rape' by a 'leftist anti-Semite'.

He claimed organisation Momentum targeted him for showing solidarity with Jewish Labour members.

09:10
Labour's Smeeth called 'Zionist filth' and 'cancer of humanity'

Labour's Ruth Smeeth brought the Commons to its feet when she described anti-Semitic abuse she'd faced. 

The MP for Stoke-on-Trent North read out a series of shocking messages.

One read: 'Hang yourself you vile treacherous Zionist Tory filth, you're a cancer of humanity.'

Another said: 'Ruth Smeeth is a Zionist she has no shame and trades on the murder of Jews by Hitler who the Zionists betrayed.' 

08:52
MPs in tears as they hear abuse stories

Last night Luciana Berger brought MPs to tears as she recalled receiving anti-Semitic hate mail when she was just 19. 

She described being called a 'dirty Zionist pig', a 'paid-up Israeli operative, 'traitor' and told to 'get out of the country and go back to Israel'.

The MP for Liverpool Wavertree said anti-Semitism in the Labour party was commonplace.