Jeremy Corbyn apologises for ‘pain and hurt’ caused by antisemitism in Labour as Jewish leaders plan demonstration

Row concerns controversial mural in east London

Jeremy Corbyn has apologised for any “pain and hurt” caused by antisemitism within “pockets” of the Labour Party as Jewish leaders issued a statement saying “enough is enough”.

The Labour leader’s statement came as community leaders from the Jewish Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council plan to demonstrate at Parliament Square on Monday before they deliver a letter to a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP).

Mr Corbyn faces pressure from MPs within his party to address concerns for his comments in 2012 on a Facebook post in which he appeared to show his opposition to the removal of an antisemitic mural.

Labour MP Angela Smith has demanded Mr Corbyn attend Monday’s PLP meeting but The Independent understands the Labour leader will not be there.

On Sunday evening the Labour leader issued a statement, which read: “Labour is an anti-racist party and I utterly condemn antisemitism, which is why as leader of the Labour Party I want to be clear that I will not tolerate any form of antisemitism that exists in and around our movement.

“We recognise that antisemitism has occurred in pockets within the Labour Party, causing pain and hurt to our Jewish community in the Labour Party and the rest of the country. I am sincerely sorry for the pain which has been caused.

“Our party has deep roots in the Jewish community and is actively engaged with Jewish organisations across the country. We are campaigning to increase support and confidence in Labour among Jewish people in the UK.”

Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Mr Watson defended Mr Corbyn, but added: “I am very, very sorry that people feel hurt by this and that is why I think it is right that Jeremy has expressed regret for it.”

Painted in London’s East End in 2012, by a graffiti artist known as Mear One, the mural depicted a group of businessmen and bankers playing a Monopoly-style board game balanced on the backs of people. It was painted on the end wall of a private property, but was removed by local authorities after complaints from residents.

In his 2012 post responding to its imminent destruction, Mr Corbyn said: “Why? You are in good company. Rockerfeller (sic) destroyed Diego Viera’s mural because it includes a picture of Lenin.”

After Labour MP Luciana Berger demanded an explanation, Mr Corbyn said in a statement on Friday: “I sincerely regret that I did not look more closely at the image I was commenting on, the contents of which are deeply disturbing and antisemitic.

“I am opposed to the production of antisemitic material of any kind, and the defence of free speech cannot be used as a justification for the promotion of antisemitism in any form.”

Speaking on Sunday with Niall Paterson on Sky News, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald said that Mr Corbyn “hasn’t got an antisemitic bone in his body”, adding: “His entire history is about campaigning for human rights to oppose discrimination.”

He said: “I think we’ve had a very frank and thorough look at the issues of antisemitism and we’ve reaffirmed our absolute abhorrence of that issue in all of its manifestations, and think we’re dealing with the issues in the correct way and I know that this issue is continually in the headlines and I think we’ve got to take it head-on.”

Referring to the mural, Mr McDonald added: “He’s accepted that he didn’t look at it properly, it is antisemtic and it should be removed, he couldn’t be clearer about it.”