Become a Member
News

MP says she had to 'mansplain' antisemitism to John McDonnell

She also mocks the suggestion the shadow chancellor has been 'on a journey' on the issue

September 21, 2018 08:50
Layla Moran
1 min read

The Lib Dem MP who argued about antisemitism with John McDonnell has said she felt like she had to "mansplain" Jew-hate to him during their clash on TV.

Layla Moran, the first ever MP of Palestinian origin, clashed with the shadow chancellor during an appearance on the BBC's Politics Live, when she condemned posters that had been put up all over London that said "Israel is a racist endeavour", an attack on the IHRA definition of antisemitism Labour had belatedly adopted the day before.

"The fact that this has come from a group that purportedly is speaking for Palestinians, I take great offence at myself, because I think it is blatantly antisemitic," she said, after Mr McDonnell has insisted: "It is not at all antisemitic to describe a state as racist." 

In an interview with the Evening Standard this week, Ms Moran said: "I had to mansplain antisemitism to him."

To get more news, click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Editor’s picks