Jeremy Corbyn Facebook account deleted as anti-Semitism row escalates

Anna Mikhailova
Updated
Demonstrators gathered in Parliament Square last week as Jewish leaders launched a scathing attack on Jeremy Corbyn - PA
Demonstrators gathered in Parliament Square last week as Jewish leaders launched a scathing attack on Jeremy Corbyn - PA

Jeremy Corbyn's personal Facebook page appears to have been deleted after it emerged he was a member of five groups which contained anti-Semitic postings.

The link for the Labour leader's personal Facebook page now says "sorry, this content isn't available right now" following mounting criticism of his handling of anti-Semitism in the party.

Corbyn facebook
The message that now greats visitors to Jeremy Corbyn's Facebook page

Mr Corbyn belonged to a group containing posts about the Rothschilds, a Jewish family often criticised in anti-Semitic conspiracy claiming that Jews control world finance.

Members compared Israel and the Nazis, and one comments about 'Antichrist Zionist Rothschild Jews'.

Another group, Labour For Democratic Socialism, includes discussions of Holocaust denial and the Rothschilds. My Corbyn has strenuously denied that he was aware of the posts.

It comes after twelve senior staff working for Mr Corbyn were alleged to have been members of Facebook groups containing anti-Semitic content.

Mr Corbyn was an active user of his Facebook account before he became Labour leader. Mr Corbyn still has his official page on Facebook, which he posted his Easter greeting message.

Leading members of the Labour party have accused Mr Corbyn of letting the country down. Lord Levy, Lord Winston and Lord Blunkett insisted Mr Corbyn and his supporters had encouraged "endemic" anti-Semitism in Labour.The anti-Semitism row continues to engulf the Labour party.

anti-semitism - epstein puff

Christine Shawcroft, a close ally of Mr Corbyn, was forced to step down as chair of Labour’s disciplinary panel on Thursday. She had claimed that concerns about anti-Semitism were politically motivated and an attempt to undermine the Labour leader.

Last week, an official complaint made against Mr Corbyn by members of the Jewish community was dismissed by the Labour Party.

The Campaign Against Anti-Semitism submitted the complaint last Wednesday, alleging the Labour leader's failure to stamp out hatred during the last three years had brought his party into disrepute.

Less than 24 hours after its receipt was acknowledged, sources at the party close to Mr Corbyn said that it had been decided it did not cross the threshold for investigation.

Mrs Shawcroft was replaced on Labour's ruling body by Eddie Izzard, the comedian.

Labour and anti-Semitism | Read more

In a statement, Izzard said the party must now rebuild relations with the Jewish community.

"Although this isn't the manner in which I had hoped to join the NEC I'm honoured to step up and represent Labour members at the heart of our party," he said.

"This is a very important time for the Labour Party and we must stamp out completely the stain of anti-Semitism from a minority of members. It has no place in our party.

"I have campaigned against hate my whole life and will continue to do so wherever it rears its ugly head.

"We must make amends and repair the damage with the Jewish community as Jeremy Corbyn has promised to do.

"We must get past this, for the good of the people Labour seeks to represent.

"We must unite our party around the platform of hope that Jeremy Corbyn has built so that we can kick out this terrible Tory government and build a Britain for the many not the few."