Jewish shadow minister says people are ‘hysterical and angry’ about Labour’s anti-Semitism row The front bench MP has been criticised by some Jewish constituents.

A Jewish member of Jeremy Corbyn’s frontbench has called for a calmer approach to Labour’s anti-Semitism row.

Fabian Hamilton, who serves as shadow minister for peace and disarmament, wrote in a letter that “we all need to be a little less hysterical and angry” in order to resolve the dispute.

He has been dropped as Honourary Patron of the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism following his remarks.

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The comments come after the party’s ruling body opted to reject the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism and install its own.

Tempers frayed

I came away slightly upset and a little angry at being the butt of her frustration with Jeremy Corbyn Fabian Hamilton MP

The veteran Labour MP, who was first elected in 1997, wrote: “I think we all need to be a little less hysterical and angry if we cannot resolve this dispute properly then there’s little hope for the more violent and urgent disputes around the world, not least in Israel”.

According to the Jewish Chronicle, he also accused Dame Margaret Hodge of not being “calm or dignified” after she labelled Corbyn an “anti-Semite and racist”.

Responding to a constituent who asked why he had not supported the fellow Labour MP, who is also Jewish, he said: “As for Margaret Hodge, shortly after she allegedly lost her temper with Jeremy Corbyn, I got the next blast in the Lobby when she shouted at me for still remaining on the Front Bench and it wasn’t very calm or dignified.

“In fact, even as a hardened politician with 21 years’ experience in Parliament, I came away slightly upset and a little angry at being the butt of her frustration with Jeremy Corbyn.

“I recalled that when she was a minister during the Iraq war, I didn’t shout at her for staying in the Government even though I had voted against the war.”

Anti-Semitism definition

Mr Hamilton published the letter to constituents in full on Tuesday, in which he acknowledges that the row has been a “weight on the back of the Labour Party”.

He called for the party to adopt the IHRA definition in its rulebook, writing: “I would much rather the NEC adopt the unamended version, but it is now time for the Labour Party to work fully with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) to put this damaging issue to rest, once and for all.”

Jeremy Corbyn has said Labour does not tolerate anti-Semitism “in any form whatsoever”, but added that he has no “direct control” over disciplinary procedures being brought against Margaret Hodge after she accused him of racism.