A Labour candidate has been accused of claimed in a hustings that people in the party "have sought to exploit" antisemitism because they disagree with Jeremy Corbyn "over an issue of foreign policy".
At a hustings for the Ilford South seat on Wednesday, Sam Tarry was answering a question about the Equalities and Human Rights Commission's probe into his party over institutional antisemitism, which he said was "troubling".
But he added: “There are people associated with the Labour Party who have sought to exploit the issue [of antisemitism] just because they don’t agree with Jeremy Corbyn over an issue of foreign policy.”
Earlier, when asked if Mr Corbyn should apologise for the party’s handling of antisemitism, he said: “I think that he has apologised and that he should apologise, yes I do agree with that.
“Look, many of my friends here when I was at Highlands School were Jewish people… I go to West Ham to watch the football with a group of Jewish young people,
“The fact is the Jewish community, whether we like it or not, in the Labour Party, is hurting and hurting badly.”
A Jewish Labour Movement spokesperson said: “Sam Tarry is right that the Jewish community is deeply hurt, that Corbyn should apologise and that Labour must listen and make the necessary changes.
"So it's beyond disappointing that in the next breath he plays to the gallery and produces a tired old trope that the EHRC inquiry - instigated by JLM's referral - is motivated by a desire to smear Corbyn, rather than confront racism.
"Given his record in fighting racists and the BNP, we would expect much better of him."
In a statement, Mr Tarry claimed he was "cleary referring" to Mike Gapes, the former Labour MP for the seat who quit the party and is now the candidate for Change UK.
Mr Tarry noted Mr Gapes is "not Jewish".
“I was not referring to Jewish people who have expressed genuine and serious concerns about antisemitism in our party, as have I, and I continue to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community against prejudice,” Mr Tarry added.
"I was explicitly clear that the Jewish community is deeply hurting over this issue, and we as a movement must listen and make all necessary changes. This is shown in my full response at last night's hustings, rather than the edited video.
"As someone who has worked with many interfaith groups and organisations, including Searchlight and Hope Not Hate, specifically to fight antisemitism and racism, this is something I care deeply about and would never seek to downplay."
Mr Tarry was previously Mr Corbyn's 2016 leadership campaign director.
Mr Gapes responded to his comments by saying antisemitism was "not being exploited.This is a deflection tactic to minimise and avoid acting against antisemitism. Tarry said people. Which people. He must name his names."
The Ilford South seat had been held by Labour since 1992 until Mr Gapes quit the party earlier this year.
