Jeremy Corbyn accused of hiding links to anti-Semitism as he deletes his Facebook account

Jeremy Corbyn has been accused of hiding his links to anti-Semitism after he deleted his personal Facebook page. The Labour leader deleted his account this morning after it emerged he was a member of five groups which contained anti-Semitic posts.

Mr Corbyn was an active user of his Facebook account before he became Labour leader. He used it to express support for an anti-Semitic mural, which sparked an outcry last month when it was brought to public attention by Luciana Berger, a Labour MP.

In response, Jewish leaders organised an unprecedented protest in Parliament Square, which was attended by more than 600 people, including senior Labour MPs.

Louise Ellman, the Labour MP, called on Mr Corbyn to “make full disclosure of any dubious past Facebook associations”.

She said the Labour leader must be upfront about his past activity on the social media site, instead of waiting for it to emerge in the media.

Mrs Ellman said Labour’s anti-Semitic associations are "horrendous”.

"This issue has been troubling people for a long time. Now, everything is coming out of the woodwork. The Labour party should rebuilt trust, not sink deeper into the hole."

Mrs Ellman said. “This is not just about the Jewish community - it's about the whole of society. Decent people recoil against the anti-Semitism they are witnessing.”

"Jeremy Corbyn should call on his supporters to stop claiming allegations of anti-Semitism are smears against his leadership.”

It comes after twelve senior staff working for Mr Corbyn were alleged to have been members of Facebook groups containing anti-Semitic content.

Labour confirmed Mr Corbyn deleted his account today but did not explain why. The link for its old page now says: "Sorry, this content isn't available right now."

The account closure came ten days after Mr Corbyn announced he would not be quitting Facebook in the wake of the privacy scandal surrounding the social media site.

Mr Corbyn also belonged to five Facebook groups which contained anti-Semitic comments. One included posts about the Rothschilds, a Jewish family often criticised in anti-Semitic conspiracy claiming Jews control world finance.

Its members compared Israel and the Nazis, and one posted about “Antichrist Zionist Rothschild Jews”. Mr Corbyn has strenuously denied seeing any of the posts

Another Labour MP, who did not wish to be named, said the deletion of his Facebook account suggested Mr Corbyn “had something to hide.”

“He is clearly anxious to wipe out further evidence of links to anti-Semitism.”

Other prominent members of the Labour party have been criticised over their Facebook activity. The Daily Telegraph understands Richard Burgon, the shadow justice secretary, was also until recently a member of several pro-Jeremy Corbyn groups containing anti-Semitic abuse.

After details of the postings were published, there was a debate on one of the groups under the headline: "All this talk of anti-Semitism but where's the evidence? I've yet to see any."

Labour said that Mr Burgon had been added to the groups without his knowledge: "These groups are not officially connected to the party in any way. Labour is committed to challenging and campaigning against anti-Semitism."

Meanwhile, criticism of Mr Corbyn’s handling of anti-Semitism in the party continues to mount. Leading Labour party figures Lord Levy, Lord Winston and Lord Blunkett accused Mr Corbyn and his supporters of encouraging "endemic" anti-Semitism in Labour.

Sir David Garrard, one of Labour's biggest private donors, has left the party saying he no longer feels "any affinity or connection" with It amid the anti-Semitism scandal.

Christine Shawcroft, a close ally of Mr Corbyn, was forced to step down as chair of Labour’s disciplinary panel on Thursday. She had claimed that concerns about anti-Semitism were politically motivated and an attempt to undermine the Labour leader.

Last week, an official complaint made against Mr Corbyn by members of the Jewish community was dismissed by the Labour Party.

The Campaign Against Anti-Semitism submitted the complaint last Wednesday, alleging the Labour leader's failure to stamp out hatred during the last three years had brought his party into disrepute.

Less than 24 hours after its receipt was acknowledged, sources at the party close to Mr Corbyn said that it had been decided it did not cross the threshold for investigation.

Mrs Shawcroft was replaced on Labour's ruling body by Eddie Izzard, the comedian.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/04/01/jeremy-corbyn-facebook-account-deleted-anti-semitism-row-escalates/