John McDonnell refuses to quit group that called Labour hate revelations 'propaganda'

John McDonnell has said he will remain president of the far-left Labour Representation Committee (LRC), which has dismissed allegations of Labour antisemitism as "propaganda" used by the "ruling class" to attack Jeremy Corbyn.

The shadow chancellor was challenged by Andrew Marr on the broadcaster's Sunday show, in which Mr McDonnell was reminded he had said he would do "anything the Jewish community asked you to do".

But when Mr Marr raised the question of whether he would give up his honorary presidency of the LRC, Mr McDonnell said: "I'm working within the Labour Representation Committee to challenge those issues. I think I can turn [it] around on those issues... There's a debate going on."

In March, the Board of Deputies called on Mr McDonnell to quit the LRC, saying it had “repeatedly defended and campaigned for individuals…denying the problem of antisemitism” in the party.