has issued a statement this morning
following his suspension nearly three weeks ago for his comments on
the Equality and Human Rights report into antisemitism within the
Labour Party.
The party took disciplinary action after Corbyn argued that “the
scale of the problem was also dramatically overstated for political
reasons by our opponents”. Referring to his initial statement, the
former Labour leader has now said: "I regret the pain this issue
has caused the Jewish community and would wish to do nothing that
would exacerbate or prolong it. To be clear, concerns about
antisemitism are neither 'exaggerated' nor 'overstated'."
He added that he hopes the matter is "resolved as quickly as
possible". LabourList sources say the
national executive committee panel considering his case is set to
meet this afternoon.
The full statement reads...
"Last month, I was suspended from the Labour Party, after 54 years’
membership and four and a half years as party leader.
On the day I was suspended I gave a broadcast interview to
clarify what I had said in response to the EHRC report, and I
also made a statement to the party to clear up any confusion
about what I had meant, as follows:
“The publication of the EHRC report should have been a moment for
the Labour Party to come together in a determination to address
the shortcomings of the past and work as one to root out
antisemitism in our own ranks and wider society. We must never
tolerate antisemitism or belittle concerns about it. And that was
not my intention in anything I said this week. I regret the pain
this issue has caused the Jewish community and would wish to do
nothing that would exacerbate or prolong it. To be clear,
concerns about antisemitism are neither “exaggerated” nor
“overstated”. The point I wished to make was that the vast
majority of Labour Party members were and remain committed
anti-racists deeply opposed to antisemitism. I fully support Keir
Starmer’s decision to accept all the EHRC recommendations in full
and, in accordance with my own lifelong convictions, will do what
I can to help the Party move on, united against antisemitism
which has been responsible for so many of history’s greatest
crimes against humanity.”
I’m grateful to the many thousands of Labour party members, trade
unionists, and supporters in Britain and around the world, who
have offered their solidarity.
I hope this matter is resolved as quickly as possible, so that
the party can work together to root out antisemitism and unite to
oppose and defeat this deeply damaging Conservative government."
