JEREMY Corbyn has hit back at “disgusting” claims that he is anti-Semitic as the UK Labour leadership contest became even nastier yesterday.

Corbyn initially denied reports that he had links with a controversial Lebanese activist Abou Jahjah, who is reported to have told a Flemish magazine in 2004 that he considered “every dead American, British and Dutch soldier a victory”.

But later the front-runner in the Labour leadership contest was forced to admit he had met Jahjah, although he insisted he had no recollection of it.

He conceded the pair had shared a platform at Westminster in 2009, shortly before Jahjah was banned from re-entering Britain by then home secretary Jacqui Smith.

In a statement, Mr Corbyn said: “My staff have researched this and tell me that I did meet this man in 2009 but I have no recollection of him. As an MP I have met thousands of people over the years. Because I meet them, it does not mean I share their views or endorse their views.”

A furious Corbyn insisted he had spent his life fighting all forms of racism and said suggestions he was anti-Semitic were “beyond appalling”.

During a call-in with listeners on BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme, he said: “The idea that I’m some kind of racist or anti-Semitic person is beyond appalling, disgusting and deeply offensive.

“I have spent my life opposing racism. Until my dying day I will be opposed to racism in any form.”

Pressed to explain why he had called Palestinian terrorist group Hamas “friends” during a meeting in Parliament, Corbyn insisted he had been trying to start a dialogue to help bring about peace in the Middle East.

He said: “I was in a meeting in the House of Commons for a very serious discussion about the opportunities for peace in the Middle East and I said to everyone in the room ‘welcome to all our friends here, let’s have a discussion’.

“I think the remark has been taken quite seriously out of context by a lot of people.”

He added: “I used it as a diplomatic language in a meeting.”

Photographs have emerged that appear to show the Islington North MP with Lebanese extremist Jahjah.

Corbyn denied knowing the controversial figure. Asked if he had met Abou Jahjah, Corbyn’s first reply was: “No. I saw the name this morning and I asked somebody ‘who is he?’”

He added: “I’m sorry, I don’t know who this person is.”

Corbyn joined the leadership contest as the rank outsider against Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall, but has emerged as the surprise front runner with his radical stance against the Tories’ austerity agenda and opposition to renewal of Trident helping to pack out his rallies all over the country,

Yesterday former Labour home secretary David Blunkett became the latest “big beast” to counsel against electing Corbyn as leader, arguing the party needed someone who “above all can actually do something about winning (the general election)”.

Blunkett said he had been a Labour member for more than 52 years, 30 of which had been spent in opposition and he warned that filling halls with activists did not necessarily translate to securing the keys to Downing Street.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I want someone who can be radical, can have a very clear vision of where Britain will be in five years’ time and above all can actually do something about winning.”

He added: “What’s on my heart is what happened to us in the early 1980s when, yes, it was invigorating, it was exhilarating. I was leader of Sheffield City Council, I was a member of the national executive committee of the Labour Party.

“We filled halls, we filled Trafalgar Square and we were hammered in the 1983 election, and again in ‘87 and again in ‘92.”

Blunkett said he “wholeheartedly” backed Burnham, and Caroline Flint as deputy leader. His comments follow interventions from former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, as well as Lord Kinnock. Blunkett said Corbyn “represents very good opposition” and had a track record of opposing his own party.

He said: “If you want a really good, vigorous out-riding opposition and you want to continue being in opposition, vote for somebody who is good at opposition. And Jeremy has not only been good at opposition against the Tories, he has been profoundly good at opposition against my party.”

He added: “I want someone who can actually address the world of tomorrow, rather than taking us back to old Labour or for that matter New Labour in the 90s because we’re addressing an entirely different world.”

Yesterday, the Daily Record gave its backing to Corbyn for UK Labour leader.

Blunkett said: “I’m sure that at least in part, this endorsement will have been made with Labour’s future in Scotland in mind, which is important as Labour has a real need to reconnect with communities in Scotland if we are to succeed across the UK.

“Labour cannot advance in Scotland if we do not reconnect with the Scottish people and we cannot win a general election without speaking to Scotland.”

One of Mr Corbyn’s main rivals, Yvette Cooper, remains confident of overtaking him and is set to outline her plan for women’s equality.

Cooper is locked in a bitter battle with Burnham to emerge as the main challenger to Corbyn, while Kendall lags behind in fourth place.

The result of the election will be announced on September 12.