SCOTTISH Labour has moved to distance itself from the anti-semitism row that has dominated the UK party in recent weeks.
Yesterday, Labour’s Holyrood chief, Richard Leonard, and shadow communities secretary Monica Lennon met representatives from the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC), and the Jewish Leadership Council, and “made clear that there is zero tolerance to anti-semitism in Scottish Labour”.
READ MORE: Scotland will realise why Labour is talking mince on federalism
The meeting came as Labour MPs and party members clashed in London at the disciplinary hearing for Marc Wadsworth, who was suspended in 2016 when he criticised MP Ruth Smeeth at a the launch of report on anti-semitism.
Around 40 MPs marched alongside Smeeth as she made her way to give evidence.
They were met by a group calling themselves Labour Against the Witch-Hunt, who called for the party to “reinstate Marc Wadsworth”.
One of Wadsworth’s supporters, Tony Greenstein, has already been expelled from the Labour Party.
READ MORE: Former coalition MSP tells Labour and LibDems to back FM over Brexit bill
“It’s about toppling Jeremy Corbyn and supporting the special relationship, which means supporting Israel. It’s got nothing to do with anti-semitism at all whatsoever,” said Greenstein.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here