Labour MP Ivan Lewis resigns from party over antisemitism concerns

An MP has resigned from the Labour Party citing the party's failure to tackle antisemitism within its ranks.

Ivan Lewis, who was suspended from the party a year ago over sexual harassment allegations, accused Corbyn of being unwilling to allow Jewish people the right of “self-determination in their own state.”

The MP for Bury South said: “It is for others to decide whether you are anti semitic, but what is absolutely clear is that you and Seamus Milne do not believe in the right of the Jewish people to self-determination in their own state.

“This is different to your view on the right to self-determination for every other minority community…All too often you have been unwilling to condemn those whose hatred of Israel becomes Jew hatred, this is incompatible with being a lifelong campaigner against racism.”

The MP, who denies the sexual harassment allegations against him, claimed the disciplinary process had been prolonged for "political reasons". 

Lewis, who served as a minister under the last Labour government, also attacked Corbyn’s stance on Brexit, calling him a “lifelong Eurosceptic seeking to conceal your true beliefs from your ardent supporters within the party who are overwhelmingly pro-European”.

A Labour Party spokesperson, said: "Jeremy Corbyn thanks Ivan for his service to the Labour Party.

"The Labour Party takes all complaints of sexual harassment extremely seriously, which are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures and appropriate disciplinary action taken.

"This case was referred to a full hearing of Labour’s National Constitutional Committee. The process is the same for everyone.”