Tom Watson: Labour facing 'eternal shame' over antisemitism - The Jewish Chronicle

Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson has launched a scathing attack on Jeremy Corbyn's handling of the antisemitism crisis, warning the party could “disappear into a vortex of eternal shame and embarrassment”.

In a significant intervention, Mr Watson also called for an end to disciplinary action action Labour colleagues Dame Margaret Hodge and Ian Austin following their protests against the Labour leader.

He told the Observer: "I think it is very important that we all work to de-escalate this disagreement, and I think it starts with dropping the investigations into Margaret Hodge and Ian Austin.

“I have frequently had very difficult conversations with both Margaret and Ian but what I understand is that your critics are not your enemies.

"On an issue that is so dear to them, I think people are very, very concerned that these investigations should be dropped quickly.”

He also has demanded that Labour signs up to the full International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism and its illustrative examples "without delay."

Mr Watson added: “This is one of those moments when we have to take a long, hard look at ourselves, stand up for what is right and present the party as fit to lead the nation – or disappear into a vortex of eternal shame and embarrassment.”

Referring to the anger that Labour generated when it adopted a code of conduct on antisemitism that omitted key examples from the IHRA definition, he said: "We should deal with this swiftly and move on. We can’t have this dragging on throughout the summer.

“I have made no secret of the fact that... we should adopt the full IHRA definition and should do it without delay.”

The Observer interview came the day after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wrote for the Guardian in which he insisted the party has “a real problem” over the issue, insisting that people who express antisemitic views “have no place in our movement”.

But the article, which was released just hours before Shabbat, sparked further anger as the Labour leader claimed anti-Zionism had "honourable proponents within our movement."

He also refused to except the full IHRA definition and accused Jewish newspapers, including the JC, of "overheated rhetoric" in their criticism of him.

On Saturday night, many Labour MPs - including Luciana Berger, Ruth Smeeth, Lucy Powell and Anna Turley - expressed support for Mr Watson's interview in a series of tweets.

It also emerged last night that Labour's John McDonnell was president of a group which backed Peter Willsman - the disgraced NEC member exposed by the JC - over his Jewish "Trump fanatics" rant and his reference to alleged false antisemitism claims by "70 rabbis."

The Sunday Telegraph revealed the Labour Representation Committee (LRC), a campaign group of which the shadow chancellor is president, had highlighted how Jonathan Arkush, the former president of the Board of Deputies, had “welcomed Trump’s election” and “went on to praise Trump’s decision to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem”.