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Jeremy Corbyn has refused to address Labour’s anti-Semitism problem while meeting activists ahead of the Peterborough by-election.

The Labour leader did not answer questions about senior official Pete Willsman, who was suspended on Friday over alleged anti-Semitic comments caught on tape.

Mr Corbyn attended a rally ahead of the by-election on Thursday, which was called after MP Fiona Onasanya was forced out by a recall petition after she was jailed for lying about a speeding offence.

He said the party's campaign was focused on "core Labour values", with environmental protection and ending austerity key issues.

The constituency has historically been a close-run battle between Labour and the Conservatives, but Nigel Farage's Brexit Party is attempting to gain a foothold in Westminster and is the bookmakers' favourite.

Labour's by-election candidate is Unite activist Lisa Forbes.

Mr Corbyn said: "This election campaign is about asserting those core Labour values.

"A Labour government will end austerity, a Labour government will invest in the future and a Labour government will deal with the crucial issue that we all face, that of climate change and the environment.

"When we fight this election, yes of course we fight it on the local issues, but we also fight it on what we the Labour Party want to, and are determined to, achieve for all of the young people in this country.

"A national education service, education as a right not as a commodity from cradle to grave, impose an increase in corporate taxation in order to end student debt because of excessive levels of student fees.

"In this campaign we support Lisa who will be a wonderful MP. We take that core Labour message out to all the doors of bringing our society and our community together, to protect jobs... to ensure we maintain that trading relationship with our nearest neighbours in Europe and to ensure that we get a Labour government at the end of this."

He said that winning the by-election would be a "good step towards getting a general election and a Labour government"

Speaking later in Leeds, Mr Corbyn said: "The Tory party might wish to debate which of their 12 candidates is capable of winning a majority of whatever their membership now is.

"Let them get on with it. I'm not very interested. I'm more interested in the alternative that we will put forward."

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott also spoke at the event, saying: "It is so important to combat the far-right. And by saying far-right, I include the Brexit Party.

"They breed division, fear and anger. They pull communities apart. And the Labour Party's mission is to bring communities together."