In another riposte, Labour MP Rosie Duffield wrote: “What an unpleasant and unnecessary tweet. Change in our party, at the very least to restore decent behaviour, respect and basic manners cannot come soon enough.”
In an interview with the JC when he stood down from the political arena, Mr Austin paid emotional tribute to his Jewish refugee father.
Fighting back tears as he recalled his final exchange with his beloved dad, Fred, who passed away last March, he revealed: “Dad said to me: ‘I want you to know that I love you very much. I am really proud of you. And I really approve of all the decisions you have taken.'
“Today, I know I could look my father in the eye, and I think I can look Jewish friends of mine in the eye. I really think that.”
In his new role as chair of anti-extremist group Mainstream UK, Mr Austin has demanded that Labour's new leader must "immediately" expel Pete Willsman and give lifetime bans to Ken Livingstone and Jackie Walker. Ms Walker was expelled after her comments about Holocaust Memorial Day and antisemitism.
