Tory MP claims Labour politician’s ‘fascist’ Israel remarks breach antisemitism definition

Conservative MP Stephen Crabb has suggested the MP Kim Johnson was in breach of the IHRA definition of antisemitism when she branded the Israeli government “fascist” in the House of Commons.

In a point of order, Crabb spoke to the deputy speaker claiming:”My understanding is that the use of language like ‘apartheid’ and ‘fascist’ isn’t just insensitive, it’s a breach of the IHRA definition of antisemitism.”

He then added there was a “deep rooted antisemitism in our political culture which at this point of time is so evident on the left.”

Some MPs were then overheard to complain “It’s not just the left.”

Crabb noted how today’s remarks by Johnson had come less than a week after the Commons held at debate to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

Earlier Liverpool Labour MP Johnson reappeared in the Commons to issue an apology and withdraw her remarks, made during Wednesday’s PMQs.

She said:”I would like to apologise unreservedly for the intemperate language I used during PMQs. I was wrong to use the term fascist in relation to the Israeli government and understand why this was particularly inventive given the history of the state of Israel.

“While there are far right elements within the government I recognise that the use of the term in this context was wrong.”

She also said she withdrew the apartheid reference, which was related to Amnesty International’s report on this issue.

Deputy speaker Nigel Evans stressed that MPs should be careful with language used in the Commons.