Up Next

Theresa May has launched a fresh attack on Jeremy Corbyn over anti-Semitism in Labour, claiming he allowed it to ‘run rife’ in the party.

It came during a heated debate between the two leaders in Prime Minister’s Questions – with Mr Corbyn hitting out at Mrs May over the Windrush generation scandal.

In response, the prime minister referenced powerful speeches made by Jewish Labour MPs and hit out at Mr Corbyn over anti-Semitism.

The Labour leader had targeted the Government’s immigration policy, telling MPs: ‘This is a shameful episode and the responsibility for it lies firmly at the Prime Minister’s door.

‘Her pandering to bogus immigration targets led to a hostile environment for people contributing to our country.

A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) shows Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn speaking during the weekly Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons in central London on April 18, 2018. Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday personally apologised to Caribbean leaders after her government threatened to deport some of the hundreds of thousands of people who emigrated to Britain from the region in the 1950s and 1960s. / AFP PHOTO / PRU / HO / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / PRU " - NO USE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, SATIRICAL, MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNSHO/AFP/Getty Images
Jeremy Corbyn has faced a huge backlash over anti-Semitism in Labour in recent weeks (Picture: Getty)

‘It led to British citizens being denied NHS treatment, losing their jobs, homes and pensions, thrown into detention centres like criminals and even deported, vital historical records shredded and ministers blaming officials.

‘The Windrush generation came to our country after the war to rebuild our nation that had been so devastated by war.

‘Isn’t the truth, Mr Speaker, that under her the Home Office became heartless and hopeless?

‘And doesn’t she now run a Government that is both callous and incompetent?’

On Tuesday, Mrs May apologised to long-time British residents for the ‘anxiety’ that they face over deportation threats.

A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) shows Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaking during the weekly Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons in central London on April 18, 2018. Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday personally apologised to Caribbean leaders after her government threatened to deport some of the hundreds of thousands of people who emigrated to Britain from the region in the 1950s and 1960s. / AFP PHOTO / PRU AND AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMEN / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / PRU " - NO USE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, SATIRICAL, MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNSTOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images
Theresa May has faced her own controversy over the  (Picture: Getty)

Responding to Mr Corbyn, she said: ‘(Mr Corbyn) talks about being callous and having a disregard for people.

‘I have to say to him that I am the prime minister who initiated the Race Disparity Audit, which said ‘What are we doing in this country to ensure people have equal opportunities in this country?’.

‘And can I say to (Mr Corbyn), he talks about being callous – I will not take that following a debate last night where powerful contributions were made, particularly by the members for Stoke-on-Trent North (Ruth Smeeth), Barking (Dame Margaret Hodge) and Liverpool Wavertree (Luciana Berger).

‘I will not take an accusation of callous from a man who allows anti-Semitism to run rife in his party.’