Jeremy Corbyn vows 'action will be taken' against Labour MP Margaret Hodge who called him a 'f****** antisemite and a racist'

Jeremy Corbyn’s office has vowed “action will be taken” against a respected senior Labour MP who called the party leader a “f****** antisemite and a racist”.

Mr Corbyn’s spokesman said Labour rules forbade MPs from acting in a way that is disrespectful or brings the party into disrepute, and a disciplinary process had been triggered by Dame Margaret Hodge’s accusation.

It comes amid a furious internal row sparked after the party’s ruling executive adopted a new code of conduct that defines antisemitism differently from the more broadly accepted meaning of the word.

Asked about the comments of Dame Margaret – who lost relatives in the Holocaust – Mr Corbyn’s spokesman said: “The behaviour that you are talking about is clearly unacceptable under Labour party parliamentary rules for behaviour between colleagues, and action will be taken over it.

“Of course, all concerns of all MPs need to be discussed and addressed, and Jeremy is always open to discuss that with members of the parliamentary Labour party.”

Asked what measures would be adopted, the spokesman repeated: “Action will be taken.”

The row blew up after Labour’s National Executive Committee, now controlled by Mr Corbyn’s supporters, adopted a new code of conduct.

Although the code explicitly states “antisemitism is racism” and is “unacceptable”, it stops short of signing up in full to the definition of antisemitism drawn up by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

Mr Corbyn’s spokesman added the Labour party had instead drawn up a code of conduct which “incorporates, builds on and clarifies” the examples of antisemitism set out, “so that they can be used effectively for a political party disciplinary process”.

Dame Margaret challenged Mr Corbyn behind the speaker’s chair in the house of commons following a crunch vote on Brexit.

It was reported Dame Margaret told him: “You’re a f****** antisemite and a racist ... You have proved you don’t want people like me in the party.”

Mr Corbyn reportedly told her: “I’m sorry you feel like that.”

A senior Labour source confirmed a confrontation occurred. Dame Margaret has not responded to requests for a comment.

The new code of conduct drawn up by Labour officials in the wake of protests by Jewish groups against antisemitism this year, states criticism of the state of Israel and its policies should not automatically be regarded as antisemitic.

It also makes clear even “contentious” comments on this issue “will not be treated as antisemitism unless accompanied by specific antisemitic content ... or by other evidence of antisemitic intent”.

The code explicitly endorses the IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism and includes a list of behaviours likely to be regarded as antisemitic copied word-for-word from the international organisation’s document.

But the code omits four examples from the IHRA list – accusing Jewish people of being more loyal to Israel than their home country, claiming Israel’s existence as a state is a racist endeavour, requiring higher standards of behaviour from Israel than other nations, and comparing contemporary Israeli policies to those of the Nazis.

Labour insists that while the examples are not reproduced word for word, they are covered in the new code, but Jewish community groups condemned the NEC’s decision and warned “on its current trajectory, Labour is failing British Jews and it is failing as an anti racist party”.

A series of Labour MPs publicly vented their fury about the situation and former party leader Ed Miliband said the party should adopt the full definition.

He said: “The argument that it is somehow incompatible with criticising the actions of the Israeli government is wrong.

“The views of the vast majority of the Jewish community are very clear. I would urge the NEC to get on with this at speed.”

Labour MP Ian Austin said the move was “utterly shameful” and added: “I am ashamed to be a member of the Labour Party.”

MP Wes Streeting said: “The leadership were warned of the consequences of today’s NEC decision. They didn’t care.”