An interview with Jeremy Corbyn
Published
by
Richard Kuper
JVL Introduction
In this interview, Middle East Eye asks Jeremy Corbyn to look back on his years as Labour leader.
In it he
- casts doubt on the impartiality of the forthcoming inquiry by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
- addresses issues raised in the leaked Labour Party report
- insists that persistent claims that he had tolerated antisemitism in the party are “wrong and extremely unfair”.
Asked why he didn’t defend himself more robustly he says “Well, I do defend myself by pointing out my record on opposing racism in any form whatsoever in society, and I have done all of my life. Was I too tolerant of people? Well that’s an interesting question. My style of leadership is very different to others. I didn’t want to be a dictator, I wanted to be a leader that built by consensus…”
This article was originally published by Middle East Eye on Mon 1 Jun 2020. Read the original here.
Jeremy Corbyn questions impartiality of EHRC antisemitism inquiry - an MEE exclusive
In first interview since stepping down, former Labour leader says allegations he tolerated antisemitism are ‘wrong and extremely unfair’
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Dear oh dear – we get all the way to the end of a nothing article to find what we know, that Corbyn didn’t have the faintest idea that you cannot build consensus with your arch-enemies. Or if he did know this he has to take the blame for not taking it on so we had a better chance. History will not be kind to him but he wasn’t alone – McDonnell and the others were scarcely better.
I’m sure the excerpts don’t give the full flavour of the interview but I’m very disturbed that JC still – after being ousted by raw power of the conservative, right-wing, Zionist lobby – has to focus on the false canard of ‘anti-semitism’. Why on earth do we allow them to keep calling the tune? That was not the reason they wanted rid of him as we should all know by now but rather because he had a workable socialist programme for the LP that was attracting thousands of citizens and voters.
This article repeats the lie that Chris Williamson said that the party had been ‘too apologetic about antisemitism’. There is clear video evidence that he did not say this. His claim was quite clearly that the party had not been robust enough in countering claims of institutional antisemitism, a claim that many of us would agree with.
I despair. The lobby’s shackles remain. It appears that using the word Palestine is no longer acceptable within the party.
Corbyn lost the will to fight four years ago , abandoning those who did so, often his closest friends, but it seemed reasonable to hope that he would find the courage to tell the truth now that he is out of office.
We were betrayed but, more importantly and unforgivably, the people of Palestine were betrayed. And for what? power? “…..for as ye sow, so shall ye reap.”
There was another JC who led by example and believed in turning the other cheek, only to be crucified by his enemies! History repeating itself, first as tragedy, then as farce…
Churchill’s pamphlet “Zionism versus Bolshevism” has a load of stuff about “International Jews” who comprise the bulk of the “Bolshevik conspiracy”. His “cure” for this is a Jewish state and a test of a Jewish person’s “loyalty” is whether or not they abandon Bolshevism:
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Zionism_versus_Bolshevism
You can see that Martin Gilbert whitewashes this 1920 article when he responds to the accusation against Churchill concerning the 1937 article:
https://winstonchurchill.org/publications/finest-hour/finest-hour-135/myth-and-reality-what-did-churchill-really-think-about-the-jews/
Jeremy’s comment that Hamas and Hizballah are his “friends “ is very telling and shocking.
People never trusted him subsequently
Thank you, JVL, for drawing attention to this article. Very interesting and informative. The doubts placed on the impartiality of the Tory-driven EHRC, substantiated in more detail in other reports, are depressing. Let’s hope the Starmer inquiry into the leaked report focuses on the content and leads to appropriate action against malpractitioners, and strategies to prevent similar future outbreaks.
Foot, Kinnock and Miliband had the sense to resign within a few days after their respective defeats at elections.
Corbyn hung on for 3 months which exposes him as callow and egotistical
In response to David’s extermely harsh judgement on Corbyn not resigning till another leader had been found, I suggest he considers the mess that resulted from Milliband’s immediate resignation – the majority of Labour MPs voting with Harriet Harman’s interim ‘leadership’ not to oppose. austerity. From what I’ve seen and heard of Corbyn he’s anything but egotistical, so perhaps there’s a little bias in your comment?
Failure to address the AS Scam was matched only by the failure to honour the referendum result
Fatal
Agree with Lorcan. Jeremy was right in staying on and contributing to a smooth hand over. He also used this time to successfully challenge in Parliament Johnson’s inept and lazy handling of the Corvid 19 crisis, in particular by forcing him to do a daily report to the public. This has note held Bozo to account but has exposed the Tories’ shambolic and false news approach to politics.
Over the last 4 years Jeremy has dragged the ditch dull bureaucratic Labour Party into some semblance of a forward looking campaigning one. He has inspired 600,000 members to join and stay, filled the party coffers and, despite all smears and taunts, has shown us the dignity of a real leader. He will certainly not ever be forgotten.