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Ruth Smeeth astounded at claim by Labour activist who challenged her that he was ‘smeared’

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Ruth Smeeth, the Jewish Labour MP, has said she is astonished at reported comments by the Labour activist who left her in tears at a high-profile party event earlier this year.

Mrs Smeeth was so upset when Marc Wadsworth challenged her at the launch of the Chakrabarti report on Labour antisemitism in June that she was forced to flee the room.

Mr Wardsworth had accused the MP for Stoke on Trent of working “hand in hand” with right-wing media to damage party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

He was subsequently suspended by the party, but, according to the Huffington Post, claimed this week that he had been “set up”.

The member of the hard-left Momentum Black ConneXions group told a meeting at University College London on Thursday that “Smeethgate” should be known as ‘Smeargate’ because I was smeared”.

He claimed he was “expelled” from the party for “daring to challenge a right-wing Labour MP who was consorting with the Daily Telegraph”.

In response, Mrs Smeeth told the JC: "I find it astonishing that rather than apologising for his ignorant and offensive actions, Mr Wadsworth is trying to portray himself as a victim.

“The events of the Chakrabarti Report launch and the abuse I have received subsequently are a damning indictment of the bullying culture that has long festered on the British far left and is now sadly being allowed to seep into the Labour Party."

Mrs Smeeth is under police protection after receiving thousands of antisemitic messages, including death threats.

This article has been amended to update the text and headline

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