Tuesday 17th April 2018

(6 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Diane Abbott Portrait Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington) (Lab)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

This has been an emotional debate, and an emotional debate for me—I came into politics to fight racism and I have never resiled from that position. For me, it has always been the case that racism includes anti-Semitism. Jew hatred is race hatred, and one anti-Semite in the Labour party is one too many.

I begin by congratulating my colleagues—

Alex Sobel Portrait Alex Sobel (Leeds North West) (Lab/Co-op)
- Hansard - -

Will my right hon. Friend give way?

Diane Abbott Portrait Ms Abbott
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I need to make some progress. I congratulate my hon. Friends the Members for Liverpool, Wavertree (Luciana Berger), for Bassetlaw (John Mann), for Stoke-on-Trent North (Ruth Smeeth), for Wythenshawe and Sale East (Mike Kane), for Bury South (Mr Lewis), for Liverpool, Riverside (Mrs Ellman) and for Dudley North (Ian Austin) on their very powerful speeches, but I think—

--- Later in debate ---
Diane Abbott Portrait Ms Abbott
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

The Charedi community has asked me to make these points.

Alex Sobel Portrait Alex Sobel
- Hansard - -

Will my right hon. Friend give way now?

Diane Abbott Portrait Ms Abbott
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

There has been—[Interruption.]

--- Later in debate ---
Diane Abbott Portrait Ms Abbott
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

indicated assent.

Alex Sobel Portrait Alex Sobel
- Hansard - -

I thank my right hon. Friend for giving way. Perhaps she was not aware that I was the only Jewish parliamentarian who was not called to speak in the debate.

After the holocaust memorial debate, I was subjected to quite horrific abuse. I shall give one example. Mr Leonard said on Channel 4’s Facebook page, “Why is this Jewish Zionazi speaking in the English Parliament?” Does she agree that we need to tackle this not just on social media —we need to take more action there—but right across the political spectrum in our own party?

Diane Abbott Portrait Ms Abbott
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I am grateful that Members have allowed me to speak on behalf of the Charedi community. I want to go on, in the few minutes available—[Interruption.]