Jewish UK Labour lawmaker vows to see Corbyn ousted
MP Margaret Hodge warns that even adopting International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism is no longer enough to repair racism damage to party
A Jewish UK Labour party lawmaker who is at the forefront of demands for leader Jeremy Corbyn to step down due to accusations of anti-Semitism vowed Sunday that the campaign will not end until a new figure is at the party helm.
MP Margaret Hodge, who had faced party disciplinary action after clashing with Corbyn over his handling of anti-Semitism in Labor, promised to “stand and fight” as she addressed the Jewish Labour Movement annual conference in north London Sunday.
Corbyn has come under prolonged attack for allegedly allowing anti-Semitism to spread in the left-wing party and for refusing to adopt fully the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism in Labour’s new code of conduct.
“Corbyn has a problem to deal with, and the problem is that he is the problem,” Hodge declared.
The MP for Barking warned that even if the party’s ruling National Executive Committee embraces the full IHRA definition of anti-Semitism — which it had refrained from doing — it would not be enough to repair the damage.
“It might have been enough three months ago, it might have just enabled us all to start talking to each other and bring trust again, but I think that moment has passed,” she said.
The Labour leadership has argued that the definition of anti-Semitism, signed by 31 countries and used by many British institutions, includes legitimate criticism of Israel.
The four clauses rejected by the party relate to unfair singling out of Israel or questioning the loyalty of Jews who support Israel.
“I called him an antisemitic racist in July and everything that has emerged since has confirmed my belief that I was right,” Hodge said, referring to a heated conversation she had with Corbyn about the definitions of anti-Semitism after the NEC approved guidelines which were criticized as being too weak.
“What is deeply worrying about it is he couldn’t engage. He wouldn’t engage, he just said ‘I’m sorry you feel like that’ and walked off.”
Disciplinary action against Hodge over the exchange with Corbyn, during which she called him an “anti-Semite and a racist,” was eventually dropped.
The NEC is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to discuss the IHRA definition, which it is expected to finally adopt, albeit possibly with caveats.
Speaking at the same conference Sunday, former British prime minister Gordon Brown urged the Labour party to use the IHRA guidelines on anti-Semitism.
Brown — who was a Labour prime minister between June 2007 and May 2010 — said the issue touched at “the soul of the Labour Party.”
“This is a problem that is real and present and something that’s got to be dealt with now,” he said.
“I want to say to you very clearly today that the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism is something we should support unanimously, unequivocally and immediately.”
Former chief rabbi Jonathan Sacks said Sunday the Labour scandal had led the majority of Jews to question whether Britain is a safe place to bring up their children.
Lord Sacks a member of the House of Lords who is not affiliated with any party, insisted the Labour leader must “recant and repent” and that he risked engulfing the country “in the flames of hatred.”
The Times of Israel Community.