Corbyn: Labour Will Not Tolerate Anti-Semitism

Jeremy Corbyn has said Labour will not tolerate anti-Semitism following the row over Ken Livingstone's Hitler comments.

The Labour leader said the remarks were being investigated and would be dealt with by the General Secretary and the National Executive.

Backbencher John Mann has also been given a dressing down after launching a face-to-face attack on the former London mayor, accusing him of being a "Nazi apologist".

Speaking during a visit to Hull, Mr Corbyn denied Labour has a problem with anti-Semitism - as some claim.

"No, there is not a problem," he said. "We are totally opposed to anti-Semitism in any form within the party.

"The very small number of cases that have been brought to our attention will be dealt with swiftly and immediately, and they will be."

Mr Livingstone was suspended for "bringing the party into disrepute" after he took to the airwaves in an attempt to defend Bradford West MP Naz Shah from allegations of anti-Semitism.

Ms Shah was suspended on Wednesday over controversial social media posts about Israel she made before becoming an MP.

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Mr Livingstone insisted that while her remarks were "over the top", she was not anti-Semitic and he had never encountered anti-Semitism in 40 years in the party.

He sparked fury among colleagues by going on to claim that Adolf Hitler had supported Zionism "before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews".

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Within minutes of his BBC London interview, some Labour MPs - including several members of the shadow cabinet - demanded his suspension or removal from the party.

Labour's London mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan described his comments as "appalling and inexcusable", while shadow cabinet member Chris Bryant told MPs he was "sick and tired" of people trying to explain away anti-Semitism, adding: "Yes, I'm talking to you, Ken Livingstone."

The chairman of the left-wing Momentum group of Corbyn supporters, Jon Lansman, said it was time Mr Livingstone "left politics altogether", adding: "All political lives end in failure and he should now depart voluntarily."

Former Labour fundraiser Lord Levy told Sky News: "There is no place for him any longer in the Labour Party. I don't think our party can tolerate that sort of behaviour."

Mr Livingstone was harangued by Mr Mann when the pair arrived for separate interviews at broadcast studios in Westminster.

As the former London mayor attempted to give a radio interview, the Bassetlaw MP jabbed his finger at him and accused him of being a "Nazi apologist" and attempting to "rewrite history".

Labour said in a statement later the chief whip had "made it absolutely clear to John Mann that it is completely inappropriate for Labour Members of Parliament to be involved in very public rows on the television".

A number of Jewish groups have also called for Mr Livingstone's expulsion from the party.

Gideon Falter, chairman of the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, said: "He is a hardened politician who has spent his political career accommodating anti-Semitic extremists and making anti-Semitic gaffes."

Jonathan Arkush, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: "Ken Livingstone's comments were abhorrent and beyond disgraceful. He denies anti-Semitism in Labour when the evidence is there for all to see."

Baroness Neuberger, cross-bench peer and senior rabbi to the West London Synagogue, has called on Mr Corbyn to set up a cross-party commission to investigate anti-Semitism in his party.

She told Sky News he has failed to "get a grip" on the "very damaging" problem, which dated back to February when members of Oxford University's Labour Club voted to endorse Israel Apartheid Week.