The racism in Othello is not as pronounced as the antisemitism in the Merchant of Venice, the director of the National theatre said this week.

Lord Ahmed has resigned from the Labour Party ahead of a disciplinary hearing into claims he made comments about a Jewish conspiracy.

He was due to face party executives tomorrow after being suspended by the party in March.

Viktor Orban, the Hungarian Prime Minister, strongly condemned antisemitism and pledged to honour the memory of Holocaust victims at the World Jewish Congress, which met in Budapest last weekend, but failed to criticise the far-right Jobbik party, the third largest in parliament.

Controversial peer Lord Ahmed’s attempted to rehabilitate his reputation with the Jewish community this week over remarks about a Jewish conspiracy he is said to have made.

Speaking ahead of his disciplinary hearing in front of the Labour Party national executive next week, the peer gave his version of the events which have led to his latest suspension from the party.

The lawyer representing controversial peer Lord Ahmed has reportedly suggested his client will not get a fair hearing from Labour Party chiefs who are investigating claims that the peer made comments about a Jewish conspiracy.

Lord Ahmed will appear before a Labour National Executive Committee meeting on May 15.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has banned protests against the World Jewish Congress plenary assembly, due to take place in Budapest next week.

Ukip has suspended a local election candidate over comments attributed to her which attacked Zionists and accused Jews of engineering the Second World War.

Comments appeared on Facebook in the name of Anna-Marie Crampton encouraging followers to "read the Protocols of Zion, all you need to know is in there and it's in their own words".

Chelsea football club is investigating claims that its player Yossi Benayoun was racially abused by the club's own supporters at the weekend.

The Israeli international was the target for boos and antisemitic taunts from a section of the Chelsea fans when he came on as a substitute during the match against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.