LABOUR Party in-fighting spilled over into inquiry on anti-Semitism yesterday after former leadership candidate Chuka Umunna called on Jeremy Corbyn to shut down Momentum.
Corbyn was called to give evidence to the Home Affairs Committee investigation after almost 20 Labour Party members were suspended for a string of remarks about Jewish people and Israel.
However, fellow party member Keith Vaz, who chairs the committee, had to wade in between the two after Umunna used the session to hit out at Corbyn’s backers and deny claims he is part of a Blairite move against the leader.
Umunna told Corbyn: “Momentum tends to crop up quite frequently” in the party’s anti-Semitism row, adding: “There are some good people in Momentum that have the best interests of the Labour Party at heart and are horrified at what their fellow Momentum activists have been saying and doing.
“But there are others in that organisation who quite frankly don’t have the party’s best interests at heart, have a history of campaigning against the Labour Party and still do. Many of them aren’t even members of our party, and yet they seek to influence the affairs and the activities of the party.
“Frankly, Momentum is a party within a party posing as a movement, which is why many of our trade unions refused to fund it. In order to help with this anti-Semitism issue, do you not think it would be helpful simply for Momentum to be wound up and shut down?”
Corbyn, who has received continued support from Momentum as the parliamentary Labour Party has pressed him to go, said the group was engaging disenfranchised people on important issues.
However, Umunna – who stepped down from the race to succeed Ed Miliband over attention on his family – said: “There is no reason they can’t do those things in a Labour Party led by Jeremy Corbyn. We don’t need a party within a party, often campaigning against the Labour Party, to do those things.”
Corbyn answered: “I thought this was an enquiry into anti-Semitism.”
Vaz interjected: “It is an enquiry into anti-Semitism and that question is out of order. This is not a seminar on Momentum or the way the Labour Party operates.”
Umunna continued: “One of the things I have found most insulting about this issue of anti-Semitism in our party is the suggestion that I or any other member of Parliament has raised this issue because we are somehow disgruntled careerist Blairites.
“My family have been victims of prejudice and hatred. My father was beaten up by the police when I was a child.
"The reasons I raise the issue that I have raised today have absolutely nothing to do with Tony Blair, who ceased being the leader of the Labour Party ten years ago, has nothing to do with my career – in case you haven’t noticed, I am not in the shadow cabinet.
“I would appreciate it if you as our leader could send a very clear message that every MP that raises this issue should be offered respect.”
During the session, Corbyn also said he regretted the choice of words he used at the launch of the party’s internal report on anti-Semitism, at which he was accused of comparing Israel to Daesh.
He told MPs: “I said Islamic states, lower case. It would have been better with hindsight... if I had said countries rather than states. I’m disappointed that some people decided to say I had made an equation.”
The session came hours after Angela Eagle warned Corbyn that she would launch a leadership bid if he did not step down, telling reporters: “There are many people – MPs, party members up and down the country – asking me to resolve this impasse and I will if something isn’t done soon.”
She added: “I have the support to run and resolve this impasse and I will do so if Jeremy doesn’t take action soon.”
Eagle’s comments came after shadow chancellor John McDonnell hit out at the “mass hysteria” among the party’s MPs, which has seen scores of frontbenchers resign and last week saw a no-confidence motion backed by 172 votes to 40.
However, Eagle said that Corbyn was refusing to engage with deputy leader Tom Watson to try to find a way out of the leadership crisis. “It’s a week since Jeremy lost that vote of no confidence and there are many other people up and down the country wanting him to consider his position," she said.
“He is not properly engaged with even the deputy leader of the party, who was elected with a mandate too. It is now time that he did so.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here