JEREMY Corbyn has brushed off calls for a major change to his leadership approach following the departure of seven disillusioned MPs as a backbencher apologised for suggesting The Independent Group might be being bankrolled by Israel.
Ruth George, who represents High Peak in Derbyshire, said she had “no intention of invoking a conspiracy theory” after she highlighted the fact that Jewish MP Luciana Berger - one of the so-called Gang of Seven - had links to a pro-Israel campaign group.
At the launch of the new grouping, Ms Berger, the MP for Liverpool Wavertree, claimed Labour under Mr Corbyn had harboured a culture of “bullying, bigotry and intimidation” and that she had come to the “sickening conclusion” Labour was now “institutionally anti-Semitic”.
Ms George sparked a row after reacting to reports that a local Labour councillor had liked a Facebook comment, which described TIG MPs as “Israelis”.
The backbencher said she would "condemn the calling of anyone as an Israeli when it’s not the case" but then noted: "The comment appears not to refer to the independent MPs but to their financial backers.
“Support from the state of Israel, which supports both Conservative and Labour Friends of Israel of which Luciana was chair is possible and I would not condemn those who suggest it, especially when the group’s financial backers are not being revealed. It’s important for democracy to know the financial backers for any political group or policy."
Her comments drew sharp criticism on social media.
The Board of Deputies tweeted: “What on earth does Ruth George MP think she is saying? That the departure of seven previously Labour MPs could be funded by Israel? Jews are rightly concerned when elected representatives start indulging conspiracy theories and tropes.”
The Jewish Leadership Council said: “Yesterday 7@UKLabour MPs resigned, many of them citing institutional anti-Semitism. Labour frontbenchers are still denying that reality. The dust has barely settled and another Labour councillor and MP have found themselves embroiled in allegations of anti-Semitism - what now?”
Later, Ms George took to Facebook to say: “I unreservedly and wholeheartedly apologise for my comment. I had no intention of invoking a conspiracy theory and I am deeply sorry that my ill-thought out and poorly worded comment did this. I withdraw it completely."
Earlier, Mr Corbyn said he was disappointed by the departure of his former colleagues but stressed: "I hope they recognise that they were elected to Parliament on a manifesto that was based around investment in the future, was based around a more equal and fairer society and based around social justice."
Asked what he would do differently to address their concerns, the Labour leader replied: "Anyone who thinks they are not being consulted are not taking up the opportunities that are available there and open and ready for them at all times to do that; I'm always prepared to discuss policies with people in the party and I do all the time."
Ms Berger suggested earlier this week that she had not spoken to Mr Corbyn since the end of 2017.
As Labour sources claimed more MPs would follow the Gang of Seven’s lead in the coming days and resign from the party, John McDonnell said there needed to be a “massive listening exercise…[to] address some of those criticisms that have been made”.
The Shadow Chancellor claimed the "only disagreement we have had within the party is around how we handle Brexit and we are bringing people together on that".
His Labour colleague Wes Streeting tweeted: "A little less conversation a little more action please. Kick out the racists. This isn't complicated."
Meanwhile, one TIG MP, Chukka Ummuna, heavily tipped to be declared the group’s leader later this week, made clear that he personally would “like to see us move as quickly as possible and certainly by the end of the year” to become a new centrist party.
Westminster has been awash with rumour that some Conservative MPs might also be prepared to jump ship and join TIG. Names mentioned include former ministers Anna Soubry and Nicolas Boles as well as backbenchers Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen.
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