The veteran leftie says ‘sorry for the hurt’ caused to the Jewish community for the first time on screen and admits it is his job to root out anti-Jewish racism from his party in a video plea
A GROVELLING apology by Jeremy Corbyn yesterday for the “hurt” caused by Labour members’ anti-Semitism has been angrily thrown out by Jewish groups.
The hard left leader issued a new video message to say sorry on-screen for the scandal for the first time.
It was his second desperate bid in three days to stem the spiralling party civil war after an article for the Guardian on Friday that backfired.
And it came as shadow ministers joined deputy leader Tom Watson’s dangerous public revolt against Mr Corbyn.
In the message, the 69 year-old boss again admitted Labour had been “too slow” to tackle the vile online abuse posted by some Labour activists.
Telling his anti-Semitic members that “you do not do it in my name”, the veteran Palestinian supporter added: “I’m sorry for the hurt that has been caused to many Jewish people”.
But there was still no movement from Mr Corbyn on two key demands issued on him by moderate Labour grandee Mr Watson.
In an extraordinary challenge to his authority yesterday, the party’s deputy leader told Mr Corbyn he must adopt the internationally recognised definition of anti-Semitism in full, and drop disciplinary action against two MPs, Margaret Hodge and Ian Austin.
As Labour’s internal divisions deepened further, Mr Watson himself was targeted by Corbyn supporters who demanded his resignation with a social media storm.
Mr Watson responded last night in a tweet: “I never, ever thought I’d be facing demands to #resignwatson for standing up for people who are facing prejudice and hate”.
Responding together to Mr Corbyn’s message, Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl and Jewish Leadership Council Chair Jonathan Goldstein accused him of “a tired re-hash of things that had been said before”
Repeating their own demand on him, the pair added: “Until Corbyn can honestly and fully own up to the problematic nature of some of his own past actions, he will struggle to lead the cultural change that is needed”.
They also attacked him for putting out Friday’s article just before the start of the Jewish Sabbath, which they had already warned would be “an act of tremendous bad faith”.
Mr Watson also warned in an interview with The Observer that Labour faces “eternal shame” over antisemitism if he refuses the demands.
The party bruiser was joined by shadow Justice Minister Gloria de Piero yesterday, who tweeted about him: “I don’t care what wing of the Party says this. It just needs saying”.
Another prominent Labour MP Stephen Kinnock said Mr Watson was “absolutely right”.
Campaign Against Antisemitism chairman Gideon Falter said: “Jeremy Corbyn has released yet another bland statement devoid of any apology for his own anti-Semitism or promises of specific actions.
“It is just another contradictory, hypocritical, insincere attempt to whitewash his own role as the author of this nightmare.”
