Ms Greer, author and writer for The New European, was featured on last night’s episode of Question Time and hit out at Labour following the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s report on anti-Semitism in the party. Also featured on the Fiona Bruce-hosted show was Marie van der Zyl, the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, the Shadow Home Secretary. Mr Corbyn, former leader of the party, was suspended by Labour following the report’s release over comments he made suggesting the problem of anti-Semitism in the party was “dramatically overstated for political reasons”.
When asked by an audience member about her reaction to the report, Ms Greer referenced “trauma” for Jewish people in society and was disappointed Labour failed to address it.
She said: “If Jewish people tell you some place is unsafe for them, they don’t feel good, it feels bad, they’re holding trauma (…)
“I’m a Labour voter, I will always vote Labour, I became a citizen so I could vote Labour, I will always vote for the Labour Party as I think it is the best coalition of the left for this country.
“But for this party to be caught up in something like this, makes me sick.”
READ MORE: Jeremy Corbyn SUSPENDED from Labour Party after saying anti-Semitism ‘overstated’
Question Time news: Question Time saw Labour supporters criticise the party after the ECHR report (Image: PA•BBC)
Question Time news: Bonnie Greer said Labour ignored Jewish people’s ‘trauma’ and hit out at the report’s findings (Image: BBC)
Ms van der Zyl also addressed the ECHR’s report on Labour and anti-Semitism, but lashed out at Mr Corbyn’s handling of the issue.
She said: “Today is a damning indictment, as I’ve said, and what’s happened during the course of the last few years is that anti-Semitism was on the fringes of society and it’s been brought straight into mainstream politics, into the political party.
“Jeremy Corbyn and his leadership made a political decision to ignore, not to tackle, anti-Semitism, that is so appalling.
“It’s not imaginable in this day and age. The leadership did nothing about it, and here we are today, talking all these years later when this could have been resolved.”
Question Time news: Marie van der Zyl savaged Jeremy Corbyn for his failure to tackle anti-Semitism (Image: BBC)
Question Time news: Nick Thomas-Symonds said it was a ‘shameful day’ for Labour (Image: BBC)
Mr Thomas-Symonds said it was a “shameful day” for Labour after the report’s release highlighted failings within the party.
He added: “We accept the finding of the Equality and Human Rights’ report in their entirety, and we will act on the recommendations.
“But first and foremost, I want to acknowledge the hurt that has been caused to the Jewish community over the past five years, Keir Starmer has expressed our profound sorrow for this.
“We are profoundly sorry for that hurt that has been caused, and today’s report, it’s an appalling, damning report that is before us, but we now have to act on the recommendations of that report.”
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The ECHR report said the party failed to tackle anti-Semitism, and said: “While there have been some improvements in how the Labour Party deals with antisemitism complaints, our analysis points to a culture within the Party which, at best, did not do enough to prevent antisemitism and, at worst, could be seen to accept it.”
It also found there were 23 instances of political interference from staff of the leader’s office in complaints made to the party.
It said: “These included clear examples of interference at various stages throughout the complaint-handling process, including in decisions on whether to investigate and whether to suspend.
The watchdog concluded this “was indirectly discriminatory and unlawful” and it held that the Labour party was legally responsible for it.
Question Time news: Jeremy Corbyn was suspended from the party after saying the report ‘overstated’ the issue of anti-Semitism in Labour (Image: PA)
Question Time news: Sir Keir Starmer apologised to the Jewish community following the reports release (Image: PA)
Mr Corbyn rejected the overall conclusions of the ECHR report, and claimed the issue of anti-Semitism in Labour was “dramatically overstated” by opponents and the media.
He added: “That combination hurt Jewish people and must never be repeated. My sincere hope is that relations with Jewish communities can be rebuilt and those fears overcome.
“While I do not accept all of its findings, I trust its recommendations will be swiftly implemented to help move on from this period.”
Labour promptly suspended Mr Corbyn from the party, with Sir Keir saying after the report’s release: “Those who pretend it is exaggerated or factional are part of the problem.”
