Labour has 'much larger' group of antisemitic members which Corbyn has failed to deal with, Momentum founder warns

'I do think we have a major problem and it always seems to me that we underestimate the scale of it,' Jon Lansman says

Labour has “a much larger” group of antisemitic members than it recognises which Jeremy Corbyn has failed to “deal with”, Momentum founder Jon Lansman has warned.

The Labour leader’s long-standing ally said “conspiracy theorists” had infiltrated the party – a consequence of its huge surge in membership in recent years.

Mr Lansman stopped short of backing the call from Tom Watson, Labour’s deputy leader, for Mr Corbyn to take personal charge of the antisemitism complaints dogging Labour.

But he said: “I do think we have a major problem and it always seems to me that we underestimate the scale of it. I think it is a widespread problem.

“I think it is now obvious that we have a much larger number of people with hardcore antisemitic opinions which, unfortunately, is polluting the atmosphere in a lot of constituency parties and in particular online. We have to deal with these people.”

It came as one Jewish Labour MP, Ruth Smeeth, told of “vile” abuse similar to that which had “hounded” Luciana Berger out of the party, to help form The Independent Group of MPs.

At the weekend, Mr Watson said of Mr Corbyn: “The test for him, as a leader, is to eradicate antisemitism.”

In response, Mr Lansman – who is himself Jewish – said: “Jeremy Corbyn has been an anti-racist campaigner all his life, I have known him for decades and I do absolutely believe in his commitment to eradicate that.

“I think he is overseeing the party’s battle against antisemitism. I’m not sure about him taking personal responsibility for cases. I think if he did that, some people might argue that that would be inappropriate.”

He rejected Ms Berger’s claim that Labour is “institutionally antisemitic”, saying the problem was partly a reflection of the 300,000 new members that joined after Mr Corbyn became leader.

“There are conspiracy theorists in many parts of the political spectrum, I don’t think it’s exclusive to the Labour party, Mr Lansman said.

“The Tory party is a smaller party and an elderly party and the role of social media in fomenting and spreading some of the poison is therefore more of a problem in the Labour party.”

Ms Smeeth told LBC Radio she was “adamant to fight my corner” by staying in Labour, adding: “I am not prepared for any Jew to be hounded out.”

And she said: “One of my friends has changed my Twitter password so I can’t see anything that’s being said about me. My staff hide all of the abuse.

“I get convictions, we’re had convictions, I get a lot of regular abuse and thankfully not from within my own local party in Stoke-on-Trent, but nationally we have party members have been saying vile things about me who have never met me.

“If they have those values, they have no right to be in my party at all and they can leave.”