Barry Gardiner sets the record straight. Jeremy Corbyn has a gold standard record on fighting racism.
On 28 February, shadow secretary for international trade Barry Gardiner appeared on BBC Question Time and set the record straight: Jeremy Corbyn has a gold standard record on fighting racism.
“That was Jeremy Corbyn”
Countering the establishment line that Corbyn has been antisemitic, Gardiner said:
Can I go back to the 23rd of April 1977 when in Wood Green there was a right-wing antisemitic march through a part of London, which was a heavily Jewish part of London. The person who organised the counter-demonstration to that was Jeremy Corbyn.
Throughout the last 30 years, I don’t think there is anyone in parliament who on issues of antisemitism, on issues of racism, and on issues of equality has consistently, whether it’s in motions… parliamentary debates or whether it’s in direct action on the streets, has taken a more active and vociferous role in fighting for equality, for minorities and for people who have been at the receiving end of racist violence… When I hear people trying to vilify him, this is someone who has, in the media… been a Czech spy, a Russian spy…
Barry Gardiner demolishes the establishment line on #BBCQT
Jeremy Corbyn has set a gold-standard record on racism. pic.twitter.com/u7ohuKlma4
— James Wright (@wrightismight) March 1, 2019
In 1977, Corbyn faced an antisemitic demonstration from the National Front. A counsellor at the time, Corbyn unified the antifascists and trade unionists in a counter-protest.
Gold standard record
And it goes well beyond the counter-protest. Corbyn’s record on challenging antisemitism is the gold standard:
- 7 November 1990: Corbyn signed a motion questioning why 21 publications posting antisemitic content had resulted in no prosecutions.
- 26 February 2009: he signed a parliamentary motion condemning “vile and anti-Semitic” content on the internet.
- 2 July 2009: the Labour leader signed a parliamentary motion celebrating Bradford Reform Synagogue obtaining Grade II building status for its “architectural merit”.
- 9 January 2014: he signed a parliamentary motion paying tribute to survivors and victims of the genocide waged against Jewish people during World War II.
- 22 June 2015: Corbyn signed a parliamentary motion praising the London Jewish Forum for standing up to racist marches.
It’s true that Corbyn has never been antisemitic and that the media and right-wing is weaponising antisemitism against Labour. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t any antisemitism on the ‘left’. There is and it needs tackling.
That said, with the above facts in mind, it’s clear that the establishment media is attempting to reverse reality. Corbyn is, in fact, a lifelong antiracist. And it’s down to us to set the record straight.
Featured image via Twitter
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He had to go back 42 years for an example?
Well I’m convinced.
Reading & understanding not really your strongpoints eh.
Keep ducking the issue. It’s not just about Corbyn, or what has happened decades ago. it’s about whether there are anti Semitic factions within the hard left that now controls the Labour Party. There are clearly more than a few isolated cases that have resulted in respected MPs leaving the party. Nothing to do with the media bias.
Thought you’d said you were quitting Shakey , you know like your mates in the TIG Tinge party .
Respected MPs leaving ROFLMAO , honestly you Blairites what utter hypocrites , haven’t you got a war to vote for somewhere ?
Remember to ask Rupert for a rise you’re doing such a great job ,,, muppet .
Agressive, bullying, hateful Archie. You must live a sad life. Hope you turn things around one day.
If you trot out such an ill-informed post you are bound to get some flack. If hard-left antisemites now “control the Labour Party” then why did they vote in the IHRA definition? Doesn’t make sense, does it.
“Nothing to do with the media bias.” is also very weak considering there have been some recent large-scale academic studies that clearly show it *is* the case. As if you didn’t know that. Makes it look like your post is in bad faith and you are just trying to provoke a reaction.
You were so busy being hurt, you forgot to respond to the point that these “respected MPs” are in fact nothing of the sort. Widely disliked by the membership and mostly would have been deselected for all the trouble they have been causing in their attempts to remove the democratically elected leader. They jumped before they were pushed.
When you write just about Corbyn, that’s the MSM view, it’s been proven that there are 0.08% of members believed to be AS, they’re being dealt with 0.08% of the Membership way less than in the General Population, those of that 0.08% are still too many but it’s a massively low figure Labour have done far more than any other Party in Europe to face the bigots but then it’s never going to be enough, is it? The MSM want Corbyn out that’s what all of this is about! As far as respected MP’s that’s up for debate look at how they all voted the other night and tell me they’re respected and tell me who respects them?
So “it’s been proven that there are 0.08% of members believed to be AS”, has it? How was that proven, Mr Byrne?
The issue is about Israel not wanting Corbyn as PM because of his support for justice for Palestinians who have been suffering genocide by Israel.
I’ve just realised the when Barry referred to Corbyn’s views on race as a “Gold Standard” he meant they went out of fashion in the 1930s.