Labour must root out shameful anti-Semitism and obscene hatred - The Yorkshire Post says

Again and again under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, Labour dismissed entirely justified complaints about anti-Semitic hatred from within its own ranks, even as Jewish MPs abandoned the party after suffering horrific abuse to the extent of fearing for their safety. That such an atrocious state of affairs could have been allowed to arise is especially shaming for a party that had rightly been proud of its long history as a good friend to Britain’s Jewish community, which was also left in fear of what it might suffer if Labour won power.

Sir Keir Starmer has made a start in repairing the damage. His suspension of Mr Corbyn, following the former leader’s preposterous – and frankly offensive – assertion that Labour’s anti-Semitism problem had been overstated was the right thing to do. What happens now to Mr Corbyn, who failed to acknowledge, let alone confront, anti-Semitism on his watch will be a measure of how determined Sir Keir is to address this scandal once and for all.

But this is about much more than the former leader’s failings. What is clear from the investigation is that anti-Semitism has become deep-rooted and widespread in sections of Labour, and it must be weeded out ruthlessly.

If the party is to convince the Jewish community that it has rid itself of anti- Semitism, all those who either perpetrated or tolerated it must be brought to book, however senior they are. If that means expulsions, they should happen without delay. Labour must spare no effort in finally scouring itself clean of this obscene hatred.

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