Corbyn Launches Anti-Semitism Action Plan

Jeremy Corbyn has announced plans to tackle anti-Semitism and other forms of racism within the Labour Party.

It follows the suspension of former London Mayor Ken Livingstone over his comments about Adolf Hitler being a "Zionist".

He made the remarks during an interview in which he sought to defend Bradford West MP Naz Shah, who was suspended on Wednesday over a series of Facebook posts about Israel.

Mr Corbyn says he will be proposing a new code of conduct on anti-Semitism to Labour's national executive committee next month.

This will make it "explicitly clear for the first time" that Labour will not tolerate any form of racism, including anti-Semitism, among its members.

Mr Corbyn is also setting up an inquiry into anti-Semitism and racism, to be chaired by the former director of Liberty Shami Chakrabarti.

The inquiry, which will report in two months, will consult widely with the Jewish community and other minorities "about a statement of principles and guidance".

Mr Corbyn, who has faced calls to sack Mr Livingstone, a close ally, said: "Labour is an anti-racist party to its core and has a long and proud history of standing against racism, including anti-Semitism.

"I have campaigned against racism all my life and the Jewish community has been at the heart of the Labour Party and progressive politics in Britain for more than a hundred years.

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"We have taken decisive action over allegations of anti-Semitism since I became leader, suspending all those involved from membership, and have set up an inquiry under Baroness Royall into reports of anti-Semitism in the Oxford University Labour club and elsewhere."

He added: "There is no place for anti-Semitism or any form of racism in the Labour Party, or anywhere in society, and we will make sure that our party is a welcoming home to members of all communities."

The Campaign Against Anti-Semitism's Jonathan Sacerdoti expressed concern that Mr Corbyn's taskforce could teach Labour MPs and members how to disguise anti-Semitism instead of solving the problem altogether.

He told Sky News: "The Labour Party's plan to deal with anti-Semitism is certainly a start, but we need to make sure this isn't just a disguise for the problem.

"The leadership itself has not acted quickly enough or decisively enough to inspire a lot of confidence in much of the Jewish community.

"People at the top need to show they too are willing to change in order to change the tone of the party."

Earlier, Mr Livingstone called for a Labour inquiry to reinstate him because he had first made his inflammatory remarks about Hitler 30 years ago and they were known to party members.