Corbyn says Labour ‘against anti-Semitism in all forms,’ tells Jews ‘we are your ally’

Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn acknowledges that Labour has faced a tough summer grappling with the issue of anti-Semitism.

In his speech to the annual Labour conference being held in Liverpool, Corbyn elaborates:

“Ours is the Party of equality for all — the party that has pioneered every progressive initiative to root out racism from our society.”

But, he says, “being anti-racist means we must listen to those communities suffering discrimination and abuse.”

He says: “The Jewish people have suffered a long and terrible history of persecution and genocide. I was humbled to see a memorial to that suffering two years ago, when I visited the former Nazi concentration camp at Terezin. The row over antisemitism has caused immense hurt and anxiety in the Jewish community and great dismay in the Labour Party. But I hope we can work together to draw a line under it.”

He then issues a promise to Britain’s Jews: “I say this to all in the Jewish community: This party, this movement, will always be implacable campaigners against antisemitism and racism in all its forms. We are your ally.

“And the next Labour government,” he vows, “will guarantee whatever support necessary to ensure the security of Jewish community centers and places of worship, as we will for any other community experiencing hateful behavior and physical attacks. We will work with Jewish communities to eradicate anti-Semitism, both from our party and wider society. And with your help I will fight for that with every breath I possess.

“Anti-racism is integral to our very being. It’s part of who you all are, and it’s part of who I am,” he says.

He proceeds to use the issue to attack the Conservative government:

“We won’t accept it when we’re attacked by Tory hypocrites who accuse us of anti-Semitism one day, then endorse Viktor Orban’s hard right government the next. Or when they say we are racist, while they work to create a hostile environment for all migrant communities.”