TORY chief Jackson Carlaw has called Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard a “coward” for sitting on his hands during a crunch vote on anti-Semitism.

Reports yesterday suggested that all but four of the Scottish Labour Parliamentary Party had backed the IHRA’s full definition of anti-Semitism, and that Leonard refused to vote because he wanted an “extra clarification on free speech.”

Carlaw said:“The drama surrounding this vote, and the fact so many tried to change it or objected rabidly to it, is evidence of genuine anti-Semitism at the heart of Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party.

“In refusing to stand up to this, Richard Leonard’s behaviour has been cowardly.

“This was an opportunity for him to put some distance between Scottish Labour and a UK party that is riddled with anti-semitism.”

A spokesman for Labour said: “Richard Leonard has been clear that there is no place for anti-Semitism in the Labour party, and now hopes all members of the party can work together.”

Meanwhile, a new poll for the Jewish Chronicle revealed nearly 40 per cent of British Jews would “seriously consider emigrating” if Corbyn became Prime Minister.