WORCESTER’S former Labour MP ‘genuinely fears’ the anti-Semitism row which has engulfed the party will have an impact on results in tomorrow’s local elections.
Michael Foster, who represented the city from 1997 until 2010, spoke to the Observer following the suspension of the former Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, from the party after comments he made in which he claimed Hitler supported Zionism ‘before he went mad.’
Earlier last week, Labour MP Naz Shah was suspended following comments she made on Facebook about Israel, which led to questions over whether the party is doing enough to tackle anti-Semitism.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has since launched an independent review into anti-Semitism and pledged to tighten party codes of conduct in order to end the furore.
Mr Foster condemned the former London Mayor’s comments, but said he didn’t believe there was a ‘massive problem’ with anti-Semitism in the party.
“What Ken Livingstone said is appalling and it is right he has been suspended pending an investigation,” said Mr Foster.
“I don’t think there is a massive problem with anti-semitism in the party, but clearly there are some people who feel it is acceptable to hold anti-semitic views whilst a member of the Labour Party, and the two are incompatible.
“I hope the party leadership takes the strongest line possible on this and to show people with those views that they are not welcome in the party.
The former MP for the city is also concerned the row may have jeopardised a good result for Labour in tomorrow’s local elections.
“Candidates up and down the country would have been pulling their hair out.
“I genuinely fear it will have an impact on the local elections.
“The behaviour of a few as put our party’s result in jeopardy.”
