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Boris Johnson lets Jeremy Corbyn off the hook on antisemitism
PM moves subject off Jew-hate and on to Brexit in first leadership debate of General Election
November 19, 2019 21:33
PM moves subject off Jew-hate and on to Brexit in first leadership debate of General Election
November 19, 2019 21:33Boris Johnson accused Jeremy Corbyn of a "complete failure of leadership over antisemitism" during the first TV debate ahead of next month's general election.
But without landing a decisive blow on Mr Corbyn over the issue, the Prime Minister insisted that the failure of leadership was "even worse" with Labour's policy on Brexit.
During Tuesday evening's debate on ITV, Mr Corbyn was asked to comment on the Board of Deputies' claim that he had turned his party into a "cesspit of antisemitism".
Attempting to defend his record, Mr Corbyn said: "I have taken action in my party where anyone has committed any antisemitic act or made antisemitic statements."
He claimed offenders had been "either suspended or expelled from the party" and in comments which will cause dismay amongst Jewish Labour members and supporters claimed, "We have investigated every single case."
Mr Johnson then launched his attack on Mr Corbyn's actual record as "a complete failure of leadership - what's happened in the Labour Party over antisemitism."
But instead of ramming home this message, the PM said: "But the failure of leadership is even worse when you look at what is happening on their Brexit policy."
Mr Corbyn suggested he understood and recognised the suffering of the Jewish people in the twentieth century, "which came about due to an un-restriction on antisemitism in the 1920s."