Anti-Semitism campaigners file complaint against Jeremy Corbyn over campaign video

JEREMY Corbyn has had a formal complaint filed against him amid allegations a campaign video dismisses anti-Semitism accusations against Labour.

The complaint, from the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, comes less than 24 hours before he is expected to be declared as the winner of his party’s leadership contest.

In the video, which was posted on his official Facebook and Twitter accounts, his supporters answer questions on topics they are “tired of hearing about”.

This includes them reading the question “Do you promote anti-Semitism?” from a piece of paper.

One of them then throws the piece of paper on the floor, and says: “So, that’s gone as well.”

The video has subsequently been deleted from social media.

CAA said this is just the latest in a long line of incidents where Corbyn and his supporters have not addressed anti-Semitism.

Because of this the group has now sent a complaint letter to Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson, to present to the party’s national executive committee.

In the letter the CAA accuses Corbyn of "committing acts that are grossly detrimental to the party”.

And it accuses Corbyn and his allies of having "a long association with anti-Semites".

The letter reads: "This week, Mr Corbyn's personal Facebook and Twitter accounts released a video featuring supporters declaring they were 'tired of hearing' about anti-semitism, characterising the Jewish community's complaints as 'rubbish' - physically and metaphorically - to be tossed onto the floor.

"In an admission of guilt, the video has been withdrawn, but by then it had been viewed and endorsed over 200,000 times, and there has been no rebuttal by Mr Corbyn.

"These accumulated acts committed by Mr Corbyn himself or under his direct leadership form the basis of our complaint under the clauses stated above."

It continues: "Under Mr Corbyn, the Labour Party that was once a pioneer in the fight against racism, has made itself deaf to Jews.

"Labour's institutions have failed to act decisively against Sir Gerald Kaufman MP, Ken Livingstone and countless others.

"It is now high time that the party acted to preserve its values, and to defend the much-abused Jewish community against the anti-Semitic lie promoted by Mr Corbyn that our complaints of anti-Semitism are hollow and motivated by hidden agendas.”
Corbyn's leadership has been dogged with allegations of failing to tackle anti-Semitism and abuse in the party.

One of the people who is pushing him to do more is Ruth Smeeth, a Jewish MP who has received tens of thousands of offensive messages, including anti-Semitic abuse.