Sir Keir Starmer has criticised Labour's policy on antisemitism amid a row over the party's strategy for tackling anti-Jewish abuse.

The shadow Brexit secretary said it was "really important" that the party listened to people who have criticised it for refusing to adopt a widely-recognised definition of antisemitism.

He called on his party's leaders to act "sharpish" to change the policy.

It comes after Labour was heavily criticised for saying it would not adopt the full International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which includes a list of examples.

The party omitted four of the examples: accusing Jewish people of being more loyal to Israel than the country they live in, suggesting Israel's existence is racist, holding Israel to a higher standard than other countries, and comparing Israeli polices to those of the Nazis.

The decision was widely criticised by Jewish community groups. In a joint statement, the Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies of British Jews said it was "impossible to understand why Labour refuses to align itself with this universal definition".

They added: "Its actions only dilute the definition and further erode the existing lack of confidence that British Jews have in their sincerity to tackle antisemitism within the Labour movement."

Top Stories | World Cup, Trump and movie trailer mix upSir Keir said his party had been wrong not to adopt the full definition.

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "I believe in the full definition. Councils, institutions across the country have accepted the full definition. I think that's the right position to be in."

Asked why Labour had not adopted the definition, he said: "There's some argument as to whether Labour has or hasn't, but I would urge everybody within the Labour Party to listen to the voices that have come out in recent days and get to a position where we are supporting the full definition.

"I think it's really important, including the examples. We have to be very clear about our position on this."

Protests against Labour antisemitism Show all 14 1 /14 Protests against Labour antisemitism Protests against Labour antisemitism Protesters clashed during the demonstration Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism Members of the Jewish community hold a protest against Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn and antisemitism in the Labour Party AFP/Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism Protesters hold placards and flags during a demonstration, organised by the British Board of Jewish Deputies for those who oppose antisemitism, in Parliament Square Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism Hundreds of people gathered in Parliament Square to protest against antisemitism in the Labour Party EPA Protests against Labour antisemitism Labour MP Luciana Berger speaks during the protest PA Protests against Labour antisemitism A protester blows through a shofar during the demonstration Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism Members of London's Jewish community protest in support of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn outside parliament EPA Protests against Labour antisemitism Labour MP John Mann speaks during a protest against antisemitism PA Protests against Labour antisemitism People protest against antisemitism in the Labour Party as Jewish community leaders have launched a scathing attack on Jeremy Corbyn, claiming he has sided with antisemites ‘again and again’ PA Protests against Labour antisemitism Labour politicians Stella Creasy and Chuka Umunna leave after attending the demonstration Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism A pro-Jeremy Corbyn protester holds a placard during a counter-protest Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism A support of the Labour Party hold up a placard during the demonstration Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism Jeremy Corbyn supporters during the demo Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism A protester holds up a sign reading ‘For the many, not the Jew’ AFP

He added: "I think we need to reflect on what's been said in the last few days and if we are not in a position of supporting the full definition we need to get into that position - and sharpish."

Labour's new code of conduct states that criticism of Israel should not be regarded as antisemitic and makes clear that even "contentious" comments on this issue "will not be treated as antisemitism unless accompanied by specific antisemitic content... or by other evidence of antisemitic intent".

Responding to criticism of the policy, Jenny Formby, Labour's general secretary, claimed the party's code of conduct went further than the IHRA definition.

Writing in Jewish News, Ms Formby, who is overseeing Labour's response to antisemitism in its ranks, said: "I have been asked why we didn’t just adopt the IHRA’s examples as they are and leave it at that. The answer is that they do not go far enough for practical use by a political party.