Jeremy Corbyn has been plunged into a new anti-Semitism row with Labour MPs after attending an event with members of a left-wing group hostile to mainstream Jewish organisations.

The Labour leader's office confirmed he attended a gathering in his Islington North constituency organised by a radical Jewish group called Jewdas to mark the religion's feast day of Seder.

His attendance at the event was immediately condemned by some Labour MPs and came only hours after he said in a TV interview he would not tolerate any anti-Semitism in the party.

It also followed a statement by the left-wing Momentum group which declared anti-Semitism was more widespread in Labour than was thought and complaints could not be dismissed as right-wing smears.

Confirming Mr Corbyn's attendance at the Jewdas event, a spokesman for the Labour leader said that he had attended an event with Jewish people from his constituency in a personal capacity.


"Jeremy was invited to a Passover Seder with Jewish members of his local community," said the spokesman.

Corbyn stumbles after defending Jewdas meeting

"He wrote to the Board of Deputies and Jewish Leadership Council last week to ask for an urgent formal meeting to discuss tackling anti-Semitism in the Labour Party and in society."

But Jewdas has been attacked by Labour MPs after criticising last week's Parliament Square demonstration against anti-Semitism in Labour, which was attended by dozens of MPs of all parties.

The group said allegations linking Mr Corbyn to anti-Semitism were "the work of cynical manipulations by people whose express loyalty is to the Conservative Party and the right wing of the Labour Party".

Commenting on Mr Corbyn's decision to attend the Jewdas gathering, Jonathan Arkush, the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: "Views held by Jewdas are their business, even if I disagree with them. We are a diverse community.

"But they refer to anti-Semitism in Labour as a smear. If Jeremy Corbyn goes to their event how can we take his stated commitment to be an ally against anti-Semitism seriously?"

Image: Jewdas has been critical of mainstream Jewish groups Pic: GUIDO FAWKES

Condemning Mr Corbyn for attending the event, Labour MP John Woodcock tweeted: "This is deliberately baiting the mainstream Jewish community days after they pleaded with him to tackle anti-Semitism.

"And he must know that meeting them now will give his members the message that the group's extreme views are OK. Irresponsible and dangerous."

Another Labour MP, Angela Smith, tweeted: "Corbyn's attendance at the Jewdas Seder reads as a blatant dismissal of the case made for tackling anti-Semitism in Labour. #Enoughis Enough."

Jewdas shrugged off the criticism, posting a Twitter message saying: "Great that there's so much interest in our work tonight! Please feel free to make a donation!"

The group added: "We are proud to be Jews and proud of everyone who attended, whether they were Jewish or not.

"We want everyone to know - we're leaving Mitzrayim (Egypt). Change is coming. Revolution will come."

Image: The Labour party has been engulfed in an anti-Semitism scandal

Comedian David Baddiel, who has been at the forefront of the debate over anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, rejected suggestions that Jewdas was "despised" by other members of the Jewish community.

"No it isn't," he said. "They are just Jews who disagree with other Jews. Which means: Jews... To make out that it's somehow anti-Semitic for him to spend Seder with them just because they're far left is balls."

But Mr Corbyn faced criticism by the Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Its chairman Gideon Falter said: "Given the anti-Semitism crisis engulfing the Labour Party, there is absolutely no way that Mr Corbyn can claim that this too was an oversight.

"Following the events of the past few weeks and indeed the past three years, this is a very clear two fingered salute at mainstream British Jewry.

"It is hard to imagine how this duplicitous man can claim to be remedying anti-Semitism within the Labour Party.

"The party must consider the message that is sent to British Jews and other minorities by him remaining as leader."

Jeremy Corbyn: I'm your ally

The Jewish Labour Movement, a formal affiliate of the Labour Party, said Mr Corbyn's attendance at the event "topped off the worst week on record of awful relations between the Labour Party and the Jewish community".

Momentum founder Jon Lansman stressed the Labour leader is a "lifelong anti-racist" who is also "seeking to meet with mainstream Jewish organisations".

Mr Lansman told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme: "He has said he is an ally in the battle against anti-Semtism and, yes, I do believe that, absolutely.

"I think we've all realised the extent of the problem, we're all, I think, tired of too many people arguing that it's all smears.

"It isn't, we have to deal with all cases of anti-Semitism and investigate them when charges are made."

In her first day as Labour's new general secretary, Mr Corbyn's ally Jennie Formby emailed party members to say she will use this week to "ensure the full implementation" of the recommendations of Shami Chakrabarti's 2016 report into anti-Semitism within Labour.

Ms Formby also vowed to introduce "new procedures to deal with complaints and disciplinary cases".

She said: "The stain of anti-Semitic attitudes must be completely eradicated within the Labour Party - we are the party for people of all races and faiths, the party of full equality for all, or we are nothing."

The Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) and Board of Deputies jointly-organised last week's protest outside Parliament against the Labour leader's handling of anti-Semitism in the party.

Last Wednesday, following Mr Corbyn's apology for the "pain" caused by anti-Semitism in some parts of Labour and his request to urgently meet with the groups, the Board of Deputies and JLC responded to the Labour leader in a joint letter.

They requested Mr Corbyn make "a public confirmation that the party will seek to engage with the Jewish community via its main representative groups and not through fringe organisations who wish to obstruct the party's efforts to tackle anti-Semitism".

It is understood Mr Corbyn has yet to respond to that letter.