Britain's Labor Party Launches Anti-Semitism Inquiry

LONDON – Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn who is a close ally of party veteran Livingstone stated late on Friday that he would recommend a new code of conduct explicitly banning anti-semitism and other forms of racism.

Noting that Britain’s opposition Labor party has launched an inquiry into how to tackle anti-Semitism after suspending former London mayor Ken Livingstone days before it contests elections in London, Scotland and Wales.

Corbyn said that there is no place for anti-semitism or for any form of racism in the Labor party, or anywhere in society. Adding that Labor suspended Livingstone on Thursday after he said Hitler was “supporting Zionism” when he proposed in 1932 that Jews be moved to Israel. Livingstone served as mayor from 2000 to 2008.

Labor has been finding it hard to pull together after Corbyn, from the party’s hard-left, swept into the leadership in September on a wave of enthusiasm among younger members for change and an end to ‘establishment politics’.

In regard of polls, it is suggested that as its current candidate for London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, is on course to defeat his Conservative opponent Zac Goldsmith, on May 5, however it also shows that Labor risks losing ground in a series of elections elsewhere in Britain.

It was reported again by British media on Saturday that Corbyn could face a leadership challenge if the results are not as hoped to be. Goldsmith, in a BBC radio interview on Saturday, said Khan was “part of the same movement in the Labor party” as Livingstone and had not been clear enough in his condemnation of anti-semitism until recent weeks.

Goldsmith said “You need to be very clear on these issues not to ride two horses. Until the mayoral campaign began, Sadiq Khan has not been anything like as clear on this issue as he has been in recent weeks”.

Khan called Livingstone’s remarks about Hitler appalling and pressed for him to be suspended.

Labor’s inquiry into anti-semitism will be led by Shami Chakrabarti, the former head of civil rights charity Liberty. She will consult Jewish and other minority groups on what counts as anti-semitism and racism, and how to deal with allegations.

Livingstone denied his remarks were anti-semitic, and said supporters of the Israeli government frequently used the charge to silence criticism of its policies.

Britain's Labor Party Launches Anti-Semitism Inquiry