Union chief Len McCluskey has blasted "enemies" of Jeremy Corbyn who he claimed used anti-Semitism allegations to "undermine" the Labour leader.

The Unite general secretary today admitted Labour "never handled the anti-Semitism issue correctly" after years of complaints that the party's processes failed to stamp out racism.

But he also said it was used "despicably" against Jeremy Corbyn by "disingenuous" people who opposed his leadership from the start.

Mr McCluskey spoke out in a string of media interviews after Unite endorsed Rebecca Long-Bailey - seen as Corbyn's heir - for the Labour leadership.

The left-winger said "two years ago Jeremy Corbyn was loved" and that changed due to Brexit, with Labour suffering its worst election defeat since 1935.

Interviewed by the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, he said: "Every single anti-Semite in the Labour Party needs to be kicked out. I've fought against anti-Semitism - and I mean physically on the streets when I was younger - all my life." He added: "We never handled the anti-Semitism issue correctly. We should have done things quicker, and you pay the consequences."

But he also said some opponents of Jeremy Corbyn used it to undermine him as leader.

He said the row was used "despicably" against Corbyn by "disingenuous" people (
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Handout)

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "I'm absolutely convinced that there were those individuals who opposed Jeremy Corbyn's election right from the beginning, used the anti-Semitism issue - which I think is quite despicable that they did this on such an important subject - to undermine Corbyn, there's no doubt about that."

He said it was not about "minimising" the scale of the problem - but that the Jewish Labour Movement had said the majority of its members would not want Mr Corbyn as leader.

He added: "The issue was not well handled. It provided ammunition for Corbyn's enemies, who used it.

"Lots of people were genuinely concerned, I have no problem with that. But there were others who were disingenuous."

He added: "It provided ammunition for Corbyn's enemies, who used it" (
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PA)

All four Labour leadership candidates have backed a list of 10 demands from the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

They include making an "independent provider" responsible for complaints, engaging more with "main representative groups" and not "fringe" bodies, and banning those expelled over anti-Semitism for life.

But deputy leadership candidates Richard Burgon and Dawn Butler have refused to back the pledges, saying they could marginalise some Jewish groups and change should not be rushed.

Mr McCluskey said it was "utter nonsense" to call for them to be kicked out of the race.

Deputy leadership candidates Richard Burgon and Dawn Butler have refused to back the Board of Deputies pledges (
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Christopher Furlong)

He told Sky News: "Both Dawn and Richard have made it clear that they believe there's a need for more debate and discussion about a couple of the points that are in the Board of Deputies pledges.

"Most of them are fine but a couple of them need further consideration."

Meanwhile Mr McCluskey claimed Labour's election defeat last month was "virtually, solely down to Brexit" and defended the party's policies on other matters.

He told Sky News's Sophy Ridge On Sunday: "Two years ago Jeremy Corbyn was loved. What happened in the last two years? Brexit, and Labour's inability to effectively stay with their 2017 manifesto position of respecting the 2016 referendum and arguing to take Labour and the country out of Europe on a deal that protects jobs and investment.

He said Rebecca Long-Bailey is "completely different" from Jeremy Corbyn (
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Getty Images)

"That got lost in the two years and that affected how people perceived Jeremy as a leader and we paid the consequences for that."

He added: "I’d have preferred the election back in the summer for sure because Labour was slipping more and more into being perceived as a Remain party and I knew that was dangerous in our heartlands.”

And he said it was "unfair" to refer to Rebecca Long-Bailey as "continuity Corbyn".

Labour leadership candidates

  • Keir Starmer - 1/3
  • Rebecca Long-Bailey - 4/1
  • Lisa Nandy - 6/1
  • MAY NOT MAKE THE BALLOT: Emily Thornberry
  • OUT: Jess Phillips
  • OUT: Clive Lewis

Odds Jan 22 from thepools.com. For full profiles and how the contest works click here.

Deputy leadership candidates

politics-main.jpeg 

  • Angela Rayner
  • Richard Burgon
  • Rosena Allin Khan
  • Dawn Butler
  • Ian Murray
  • OUT: Khalid Mahmood

He claimed she is "completely different" from Mr Corbyn and has "different views" and policies.

He added: "She is her own individual, people will see she's strong, courageous, brave, certainly capable and she's able to take forward her vision."