Tories blast Keir Starmer’s ‘lack of backbone’ for failing to fight anti-Semitism under Corbyn as party faces civil war

: "This was a day for our party to move forward as one to defeat the evil of anti-Semitism. However, the decision to suspend Jeremy Corbyn has threatened that opportunity.

"The suspension appears to fly in the face of one of the important recommendations made by the Equality and Human Rights Commission – and which Keir himself said he would implement in full and immediately – which is to remove the leader’s office from party investigations.

"But it is also an act of grave injustice which, if not reversed, will create chaos within the party and in doing so compromise Labour’s chances of a general election victory. A split party will be doomed to defeat."

Sir Keir stood firm on his decision, storming that he wanted to "draw a line in the sand" and Mr Corbyn's response denying the scale of anti-semitism in the party stoked the flames.

Hard left faction of the Labour party Momentum has even set up a petition demanding their ex-Leader be reinstated.

And almost 6,000 people have signed it.

Labour MP Nadia Whittome dashed to Mr Corbyn's defence saying she had "deep personal affection" for him and called for him to be reinstate to the party.

But she made clear she did not agree with his shameless statement refusing to shoulder any blame yesterday.