[MTVN]

Good article by Dan Hodges (a Labour supporter for the record) on this today

Over 150 pages, it painstakingly detailed how Corbyn had spent two years as a member of a closed Facebook group called Palestine Live. The group was a veritable cesspit of anti-Semitism, containing vast numbers of racist posts and links ranging from Holocaust denial, through Zionist conspiracy theories and 9/11 conspiracy theories, to descriptions of Jews as ‘Zios’, ‘ZioNazi’ and ‘JewNazi’.

Collier’s research revealed Corbyn had engaged with the group, had been lauded by its members, and had organised meetings at the Commons for members via the site. In response, Corbyn’s office claimed he had been added to the group without his knowledge or consent.

When it was pointed out he had posted on the site, they backtracked and claimed he had only responded to individual posts in which he’d been mentioned. Then it was pointed out he had in fact ‘favoured’ various pieces of general content. At which point Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell appeared on television to claim Corbyn had left the group as soon as its vile nature had been brought to his attention.

Unfortunately, Corbyn himself had already undermined that defence, admitting he had only left the site when he was elected Labour leader. So his office finally fell back on the line that he had not personally seen or engaged with any anti-Semitic content directly.

At this point the reaction was instantaneous and savage. An instantaneous and savage silence.

From Labour’s Shadow Cabinet there was silence. From Labour MPs there was silence. From the Tory Party there was silence. On the main broadcast bulletins there was silence. On the front pages of the national newspapers there was silence. Across the nation. Silence. It’s important to repeat again what had occurred. The leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition admitted to being a member of what by any objective definition is a Facebook group of unremitting anti-Semitic hatred. He admitted to engaging with that group, of organising meetings on behalf of that group, and of remaining a member of that group for two full years.

And yet there is nothing. No internal challenge or repudiation. No external challenge or repudiation. Just a collective shrug.

Full article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/ar...l-compass.html