Labour MP Wes Streeting has told a longstanding campaigner against antisemitism to “f**k off” in a Twitter row over Labour parliamentary candiate Ali Milani, who previously invoked an antisemitic trope about Jews and money and said Israel had no right to exist.

Mr Streeting had retweeted a video in which Mr Milani can be seen apologising for his “discussions around Palestine which veer into antisemitic remarks” and talking about his subsequent decision to visit Auschwitz. 

In his retweet, Mr Streeting said the antisemitic social media posts by Mr Milani, who is challenging Mr Johnson in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency, were “inexcusable, but he should also be judged on how he has listened and learned”. 

When asked by campaigner against antisemitism Euan Philipps whether the Jewish Labour Movement was still backing Mr Milani, Mr Streeting replied: “I understand cynicism. But public opinion has been on a journey because of persuasion, not just demography. Our faiths teach us about repentance and redemption. This is a journey. It requires proof and genuine change. But we’ve got to give change a chance or what’s the point?”

When Mr Philipps replied to Mr Streeting that “this qualifies as the lamest defence of antisemitism from a so-called moderate I have ever seen”, the Labour MP exploded, saying: “Oh please just do one, Euan. I am saying very clearly that there’s a place for genuine repentance and redemption. Of course there is. But if you’re throwing stones at people for excusing antisemitism honestly just f**k off.”