Jeremy Corbyn gets support from former BNP leader Nick Griffin over Zionists comments row Former far-right leader tweets backing for Corbyn amid antisemitism row

Jeremy Corbyn has attracted dubious support from former BNP leader Nick Griffin after further damaging comments from the Labour leader were unearthed on Thursday.

Mr Corbyn has come under sustained fire for remarks he made about “British Zionists”, claiming they “don’t understand English irony”.

It follows months of troubling headlines for Mr Corbyn, who has come under increasing pressure over a number of issues linked to antisemitism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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No irony

In footage published on the MailOnline from a conference in 2013, Mr Corbyn says: “[British Zionists] clearly have two problems: one is they don’t want to study history and, secondly, having lived in this country for a very long time, probably all their lives, they don’t understand English irony either.”

The comments prompted far-right member Mr Griffin to throw his weight behind the Labour leader, who tweeted: “Go Jezza! I wonder how many Labour activists the hysterical #Zionist media campaign against #Corbyn is re-pilling?”

Go Jezza! I wonder how many Labour activists the hysterical #Zionist media campaign against #Corbyn is re-pilling?https://t.co/GYti6HtxXN — Nick Griffin (@NickGriffinBU) August 23, 2018

It is unclear whether he was offering his support in a bid to further damage the Labour leader, a tactic far-right leaders have used in the past with other prominent figures.

John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor, defended the Labour leader on Friday saying he had devoted his life to securing peace in the Middle East.

Mr McDonnell said that the video of Mr Corbyn had been taken out of context.

“I think this has all been taken out of context: whatever Jeremy has said throughout the years has always been about how to secure peace, particularly within the Middle East and also peace with justice for all concerned – both members of the Jewish community and also members of the Palestinian community,” he said.

Opposed to antisemitism

“In that context Jeremy has devoted his life, so I think this would take expressions out of context in that way are not helping.”

A spokeswoman for Mr Corbyn said: “Jeremy is totally opposed to all forms of antisemitism and is determined to drive it out from society.

“At this event, he was referring to a group of pro-Israel activists misunderstanding and then criticising the Palestinian ambassador for a speech at a separate event about the occupation of the West Bank.”