Angela Rayner claims she was ‘photobombed’ by Jeremy Corbyn
One Jewish Labour figure said: 'That photo of Angela Rayner and Barry Gardiner with Jeremy Corbyn - it actually looked like they were trolling Luciana Berger. What a farce.'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner has been photographed alongside Jeremy Corbyn for a promotional stunt – only two days after she launched the Jewish Labour Movement’s antisemitism training sessions.
Rayner was pictured giving them thumbs-up sign along the former leader – who is still suspended as a party MP – and her Labour colleague Barry Gardiner, for the launch of his private members bill to stop the practice of hire and fire.
Jewish News understands that the photograph, which was posted on social media, has sparked outrage amongst campaigners against antisemitism in the party, including senior figures within JLM.
On Friday, sources close to Rayner told Jewish News that Corbyn had “photobombed” the planned photo stunt with herself and Gardner.
They said she did not speak to Corbyn and did not know he would be there when she accepted the invitation from the Unite union to be there.
At the launch of Monday’s JLM online antisemitism sessions, which were attended by thousands of Labour members, Rayner had restated the claim that under Sir Keir Starmer’s the party were “absolute” in their determination to tackle anti-Jewish racism.
Meanwhile at an earlier JLM conference event Rayner had told attendees that she believed Corbyn failed to undertstand how upsetting his comments around antisemitism could be.
Ex-leader Corbyn remains suspended as a Labour MP as a result of his public response to the publication of the EHRC report into his handling of antisemitism in the party.
Only last week, he caused further anger when he told the Cambridge Union that he did not believe Jewish former MP Luciana Berger had been “hounded out” of the party.
Last Friday Labour confirmed they were “looking into” Corbyn’s comments with a view to a formal investigation.
But one Jewish Labour figure this week told Jewish News: “That photo of Angela and Barry with Corbyn – it actually looked like they were trolling Luciana.
“What a farce.”
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