Former Labour head Corbyn suspended over dismissive comments against anti-Semitism charges

Jeremy Corbyn, the former leader of Britain’s Labour Party, has been suspended from office over dismissive comments refuting anti-Semitism charges, pending investigation, a party spokesman said Thursday, .

Serving as the leader of the Opposition since 2015, the British politician’s suspension comes after a report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) accused him of practising discrimination against Jews while in office.

“Our analysis points to a culture within the (Labour) Party which, at best, did not do enough to prevent anti-Semitism and, at worst, could be seen to accept it,” the EHRC concluded in its 18-month investigation.

Corbyn refused on Thursday to accept the report’s findings, denying the claims marked against him.

“One anti-Semite is one too many, but the scale of the problem was also dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents inside and outside the party, as well as by much of the media,” he stated. “That combination hurt Jewish people and must never be repeated.”

The Labour mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has condemned Corbyn’s alleged “harassment and discrimination” of the Jewish community , calling it an “utterly shameful” act.

“I welcome Keir Starmer’s swift and strong response to the EHRC report, as well as the action he’s already taken as leader to root out antisemitism,” he said in statement on Twitter.

A spokesperson for the Labour Party concluded: “In light of his comments made today and his failure to retract them subsequently, the Labour Party has suspended Jeremy Corbyn pending investigation. He has also had the whip removed from the Parliamentary Labour Party.”

[Sourced from Agencies]