Labour anti-Semitism: Jeremy Corbyn under fire for Facebook post as row intensifies

Jeremy Corbyn was today at the centre of a fresh Labour anti-Semitism row after posting support for an offensive street art on Facebook.

The Labour leader faced a backlash from his own MPs for a post in which he questioned why an "indefensible" mural was to be painted over in east London.

The post from 2012 offered support for Los Angeles-based street artist Mear One who painted a mural featuring anti-Semitic tropes.

Posting a picture of the mural on Facebook, Mear One said: “Tomorrow they want to buff my mural Freedom of Expression. London Calling, Public art.”

Mr Corbyn commented: “Why? You are in good company. Rockerfeller [sic] destroyed Diego Viera’s mural because it includes a picture of Lenin.”

The street art depicted a group of businessmen playing a Monopoly-style game on a board balanced on the backs of people.

The artist denied being anti-Semitic, saying the mural is about "class and privilege" and contains a group of bankers "made up of Jewish and white Anglos".

Mr Corbyn said he made a "general comment about the removal of public art on grounds of freedom of speech" but acknowledged he should have looked more closely at the image before posting on Facebook.

He said: "I sincerely regret that I did not look more closely at the image I was commenting on, the contents of which are deeply disturbing and anti-Semitic."

It is the latest row over anti-Semitism to hit Labour and MP Chuka Umunna said "there clearly is an issue" within the party.

"It isn't that a majority of our members are anti-Semitic but there's definitely amongst the minority a real problem here which is not in keeping with the values of the Labour Party," Mr Umunna told BBC's Newsnight.

Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Education Trust, said the mural was "indefensible".

"The mural was blatantly anti-Semitic, using images commonly found in anti-Semitic propaganda - it is impossible not to notice.

"If as he says, Mr Corbyn is against all forms of racism, why does his stance on anti-Semitism always fall short?"

Labour MP Luciana Berger said she had raised the issue with Mr Corbyn's office. She later said the response "fails to understand on any level the hurt and anguish felt about anti-Semitism".

The row came as Jeremy Corbyn was facing a backlash from within his own party after he sacked shadow minister Owen Smith for calling for a second EU referendum.

Mr Smith was forced out as shadow Northern Ireland Secretary last night for expressing his “long held views” on Brexit.

Responding to the rows engulfing Labour, MP Wes Streeting said: "If only anti-Semites were dealt with as swiftly as Remainers."

Labour MP Mike Gapes said it appeared that "free speech is allowed for anti-Semites but not for Labour MPs supporting the views of our members and our 2016 Conference Policy on the EU".