Jeremy Corbyn 'absolutely resolute' about tackling anti-Semitism in Labour Party

Labour councillor Aysegul Gurbuz was suspended by the party last week over messages posted on her Twitter account

'We have suspended, we will suspend, any member that behaves in that way,' the Labour leader said (PA)

Jeremy Corbyn has insisted that Labour is "absolutely resolute" about tackling "abhorrent" anti-Semitism after the Jewish Board of Deputies called for him to “take action” against racism in the party.

The Labour leader said there was "no place for any racism of any sort" and promised swift action in any cases which come to light.

He was speaking after councillor Aysegul Gurbuz was suspended by the party over messages posted on her Twitter account claiming that Hitler was the "greatest man in history" and suggesting that Iran could develop a nuclear weapon to "wipe Israel off the map".

On Thursday UK’s main Jewish organisation accused Mr Corbyn of failing to deal with anti-Semitism after what they described as a “stream of clear cut cases which can’t just be fobbed off as differences over Israel”.

Asked about the issue on BBC One's Andrew Marr Show Mr Corbyn said he would ensure that the party took robust action against any member expressing anti-Jewish sentiments.

"Anti-Semitism is absolutely abhorrent and wrong,” he said.

“Anyone that commits any act of anti-Semitism, that makes anti-Semitic remarks, is auto excluded from the party and an inquiry follows immediately.

"We have suspended, we will suspend, any member that behaves in that way."

The allegations over Ms Gurbuz follow a series of incidents involving anti-Semitic comments by Labour activists, including one who was suspended after posting tweets referring to Jews with "big noses" and describing Hitler as a "Zionist God".

The chairman of the Oxford University Labour Club recently resigned, saying a "large proportion" of its members had "some kind of problem with Jews".

Luton councillor Ms Gurbuz suggested her sister may have posted the now-deleted comments on her Twitter account.

The Mail on Sunday reported that she told the Campaign Against Antisemitism: "It was a joint account I had with my sister so I don't know if she's gone out and tweeted that, but I'm absolutely appalled right now."

"Where I live we've got very good cohesion with the Jewish community... I'm absolutely shocked."

A Labour Party spokeswoman said: "Councillor Gurbuz has been suspended from the Labour Party pending an investigation."