Corbyn ‘utterly determined’ to root out anti-Semitism from Labour

Jeremy Corbyn has insisted he is “utterly determined” to rid the Labour Party of anti-Semitism, as he urged his warring party to unite behind him in a bid to win power.

He said that rather than fighting within itself, his party should turn its fire on the Tories – who he criticised over their “desperate” handling of Brexit negotiations and austerity policies.

With Labour struggling to deal with complaints of anti-Semitism, he said the party “must lead the fight against all types of racism”.

Mr Corbyn spoke out as he addressed the Scottish Labour conference in Dundee, telling delegates their party was now “the biggest it has been for generations” with “popular policies which people know will improve their lives”.

He told the audience: “The only thing that can hold us back is if we were to turn our fire on each other rather than on the Tory government and the wealthy establishment interests they represent.”

But his speech came after an equality watchdog began enforcement action which could lead to it gaining access to internal communications between staff handling complaints.

In a heightening of Labour’s anti-Semitism crisis, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) announced on Thursday it was launching an enforcement process which could lead to a formal investigation.

Mr Corbyn insisted: “Racism, religious bigotry and misogyny have no place whatsoever in any part of our movement.

“And we will root out anti-Semitism in our party, and in society at large. And I am utterly determined to achieve that.”

He said it was important to return Labour to power both at Westminster and at Holyrood, so the party could deliver “real change”.

But he told Labour members: “To get there, we as a party have to be united.

“That doesn’t mean we have no room for debate and disagreement, discussion. They are the lifeblood of our democracy.

“But there is no justification for the abuse of anybody.”

While he insisted Labour, unlike other parties, was “not obsessed” with constitutional issues, he insisted the party’s alternative Brexit proposals were “credible” and also had the “potential to win the support of Parliament”.

He added: “Discussions with Michel Barnier and others in Brussels have convinced me that it could be negotiated with the EU.”

The proposals would provide a “sensible framework” for the UK’s future relationship with the European Union, with a new customs union and a “close relationship” with Europe’s single market.

He hit out at the Prime Minister, saying that if Theresa May “cannot get her botched Brexit deal through Parliament next week it will represent an unprecedented failure in British political history”.

The Labour leader continued: “The utter mess the Government has made of the Brexit negotiations and their reckless abandon when it comes to people’s jobs and livelihoods is unforgivable.

“The Conservatives’ deal will make us all worse off and we could never support it.”

He went on to warn that a no-deal Brexit would “cause havoc” in the economy, as he said Labour still wanted a general election.

“We’re ready for a general election,” he told activists, although he also said Labour would support a second referendum on Brexit in order to “prevent disaster”.

A key section of his speech was focused on climate change, with Mr Corbyn insisting this was “fundamentally” a class issue.

“It’s working class communities that suffer the worst pollution and the worst air quality,” he said.

“It’s working class people who will lose their jobs as resources run dry.

“And it’s working class people who will be left behind as the rich escape rising sea levels.”