Labour is investigating a torrent of antisemitic abuse deputy leadership candidate Ian Murray received after he emailed party members saying he was "proud to be supported by the Jewish Labour Movement".
Mr Murray, who is Labour’s only remaining Scottish MP, said in his campaign email that he was that he would “tackle the stain of antisemitism in our party”.
Replies accused Mr Murray of being a “Mossad agent” and alleged that the “Jews thought they owned the Labour Party”.
Another reply, HuffPost reported, said: “I personally feel ashamed about anybody in the Labour Party associating themselves with a bunch of war criminals and latter-day Nazis who are committing genocide and being sold weapons by this country to do it in Israel so if you’re proud of being associated with them are you at another on the payroll or Mossad agent in the Labour Party”.
Others accused JLM of being an “elitist group whose vested interest is to maintain the status quo and their financial interests” or said that Murray was protecting only “a few thousand of a small minority”.
Mr Murray has been a critic of outgoing Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. He has vowed to reform Labour’s organisational structures and fight-back against antisemitism within the party.
Mr Murray has forwarded the abusive messages to the party and asked for “urgent disciplinary action” against members involved.
“These sickening replies may be from a minority of members, but they demonstrate that antisemitism is still a major problem in the Labour Party,” the Edinburgh South MP added in a statement.
“The last few years have seen bullying and intimidation inside the Labour Party that should utterly shame us. And there is nothing that should shame us more than the anti-Jewish hatred in our ranks.
“I never want to knock on a door again when the resident won’t vote Labour for the first ever time because of anti-Semitism.
“If elected, I will take responsibility for rooting out antisemitism, and if it’s not done under my watch then I’ll resign as deputy leader, because I won’t tolerate antisemitism within the Labour Party”.
A Labour spokesman said: “The Labour Party takes all complains extremely seriously, which hare fully investigated and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken in line with the Party’s rules and procedures.”
The JC understands that other campaigns have made similar complaints to Labour HQ and that investigations have been launched leading to disciplinary action, including suspensions.
Mr Murray is running for the deputy leadership against Angela Rayner, Rosena Allin-Khan, Richard Burgon and Dawn Butler. The results will be announced on April 4.
Mr Murray, who is a former Shadow Scotland Secretary, has the backing of former Prime Ministers Gordon Brown and Tony Blair.
A Survation poll for LabourList in February put Mr Murray is in fourth place, on track to receive 14 per cent of first preference votes.
