Key Obama ally piles pressure on Corbyn over anti-Semitism: Top US Democrat Nancy Pelosi stressed importance of standing against anti-Jewish discrimination ‘wherever it is found’
- Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi met with Corbyn
- She declared ‘the importance of standing unequivocally against anti-Semitism’
- Pelosi also met in London with Chris Leslie, Mike Gapes and Ian Austin
Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour was under pressure last night after the highest-ranking woman in US politics appeared to admonish the party over its anti-Semitism problem.
After meeting three former Labour MPs who quit the party, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, declared ‘the importance of standing unequivocally against anti-Semitism wherever it is found’.
Mrs Pelosi – who was instrumental in getting Barack Obama’s health care law through the House in 2010 – was in London yesterday to meet with Chris Leslie and Mike Gapes, who defected to form The Independent Group, and Ian Austin, who now sits as an independent. She tweeted that they had had an ‘important discussion… to hear their perspective on Brexit [and] why they left the Labour Party’. Mrs Pelosi was also due to meet Mr Corbyn last night.
Nancy Pelosi said she was pleased to have had a ‘candid discussion’ with Jeremy Corbyn
Her remarks came as Lord Falconer warned that the Labour Party’s failure to tackle anti-Semitism was a ‘very real threat’ to its survival.
The former lord chancellor, who has been asked by the party leadership to hold an investigation into anti-Semitism, also said Labour could not be seen as an alternative government unless it is ‘absolutely vigorous and effective’ in removing people who are anti-Semitic.
He said: ‘There is too much a sense that anti-Semitism is not being properly dealt with. I think this is a very, very real threat to the party.
‘How can you convince people that you are a serious, moral, decent party if you are anti-Semitic? How can you claim to be an alternative government if you are anti-Semitic? We have to do something about it.’
The comments came after The Sunday Times published details of a secretly recorded meeting between Mr Corbyn and Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge in February when he outlined his intention to appoint Lord Falconer to review the party’s complaints process.
The newspaper quoted Mr Corbyn saying: ‘The point of him [Falconer] is that he will look at the speed of dealing with cases, the administration of them, and the collation of the evidence before it is put before appropriate panels and things.
Mrs Pelosi – who was instrumental in getting Barack Obama’s health care law through the House in 2010 – was in London yesterday to meet with Chris Leslie and Mike Gapes, who defected to form The Independent Group, and Ian Austin, who now sits as an independent
‘Because I was concerned that evidence was either being mislaid, ignored or not used and that there had to be some better system.’
A Labour spokesman said the party takes allegations of anti-Semitism seriously, adding: ‘This shows Jeremy Corbyn’s desire to make procedures as robust and efficient as possible and to rebuild trust with the Jewish community.
‘We are committed to challenging and campaigning against it in all its forms. All complaints… are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken.’
Dame Margaret told the BBC: ‘The reason, actually, that I recorded that particular tape was as an insurance policy. I was having a one-to-one meeting with Jeremy Corbyn and, ironically, I didn’t want what I said to be misrepresented.’
Labour MP Ronnie Campbell said taping Mr Corbyn was unacceptable. He said: ‘I think it’s deplorable that somebody goes to a private meeting with the leader and records the conversation.’
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