Labour MPs Hodge and Russell-Moyle to meet after antisemitism spat
The exchange comes after Dame Margaret Hodge criticised the choice of of Lisa Forbes as Labour's Peterborough by-election candidate
Labour MPs Lloyd Russell-Moyle and Dame Margaret Hodge have agreed “to meet for coffee” after the two traded blows on Twitter over the antisemitism row.
The exchange follows criticism made by Hodge on the choice of of Lisa Forbes as Labour’s Peterborough by-election candidate at a heated parliamentary meeting.
Hodge is believed to have said she could “not tolerate” antisemitism of any kind within the parliamentary Labour Party.
Russell-Moyle accused Hodge today of having a personal vendetta against Jeremy Corbyn, claiming she “abuses” her colleagues on the issue of antisemitism.
The MP shared a video posted by the account Socialist Voice, run by an activist barred from Labour for accusing supermarket chains of having “Jewish blood.”
Shortly after posting, Russell-Moyle deleted his tweet, sharing the same clip again but from a different account.
“Let’s remember Hodge in 1983 was lined up by the right of party to be the MP for Islington North and as leader of the council was considered a shoe in,” he wrote.
“@JeremyCorbyn4PM stood as a rank a file member and won. She has never forgiven him and has dedicated her time to undermine him.
“She attacks newly elected colleagues for no reason (even after heartfelt apologies),” he continued, in an apparent reference to Forbes, who apologised for her social media activity.
“Antisemitism is problem in @uklabour party, I’ve had vile antisemites rightly kicked out locally. But to call someone an antisemite on base of concern with IHRA or liking a photos/video with text and abuse them in public, after they say they sorry and want to learn, is wrong.
“[Hodge] has abused people in lobbies and corridors and last nights personal outburst at a newly elected MP was another low after apology offered.”
Hodge replied shortly after that her actions were “not simply a vendetta”, reiterating her concerns about antisemitism in the party and urging her colleague to meet her for coffee, who agreed to arrange a meeting.
“Just seen thread of tweets & revised tweets from @lloyd_rm. My actions are not simply a vendetta,” Hodge wrote.
“I have loudly & repeatedly called out Labour antisemitism because we have a serious problem & leadership has failed to act. Lloyd, lets meet for coffee to talk this through properly.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
