Corbyn’s Handling of Anti-Semitism in Labour: A Divisive Chapter in UK Politics

Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the British Labour Party from 2015 to 2020 marked one of the most turbulent periods in the party’s modern history. While his supporters praised his progressive economic agenda and grassroots mobilization, Corbyn’s time at the helm was increasingly overshadowed by allegations of anti-Semitism within the party—and, more controversially, by his perceived failure to address them effectively. The issue became a defining and divisive factor not only in his leadership but also in Labour's national reputation, contributing significantly to its electoral downfall in 2019.

The roots of the controversy trace back to a series of incidents that began even before Corbyn’s leadership but intensified under his watch. Corbyn, a long-time campaigner for Palestinian rights and a critic of Israel’s government policies, often found himself under scrutiny for his associations and past statements. Critics accused him of blurring the line between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, and of fostering a political environment where anti-Semitic views were tolerated, if not implicitly encouraged. What began as isolated reports of offensive social media posts and inappropriate rhetoric soon ballooned into a full-blown crisis as Labour members, MPs, and Jewish groups raised alarms about systemic issues.

One of the earliest flashpoints was the 2016 suspension of Naz Shah, a Labour MP who had posted anti-Semitic content online before her election. Around the same time, former London mayor Ken Livingstone defended Shah by referencing Hitler’s early support for Zionism, sparking a media firestorm. These incidents prompted Labour to launch an internal inquiry, headed by human rights lawyer Shami Chakrabarti. Although the Chakrabarti Report concluded that the party was not overrun by anti-Semitism, critics argued it lacked depth and independence—especially since Corbyn appointed Chakrabarti to the House of Lords shortly afterward.

Throughout this period, Corbyn repeatedly stated that he condemned anti-Semitism and all forms of racism. However, his efforts to demonstrate action—such as setting up disciplinary procedures and issuing public statements—were widely seen as too slow or ineffective. Many of the complaints lodged against Labour members for anti-Semitism remained unresolved for long periods, fostering a perception that the party lacked the political will to confront the issue head-on. Corbyn's defenders claimed he was the target of a coordinated smear campaign aimed at undermining his leadership, often pointing to his decades-long record of anti-racist activism. However, this response only deepened the rift between different factions of the party.

The conflict escalated in 2018 when the Labour National Executive Committee debated the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism. The party initially accepted the definition but excluded some of the accompanying examples, leading to outrage from Jewish groups, MPs, and community leaders. Eventually, the full definition was adopted after sustained pressure, but the delay inflicted lasting damage on Labour’s relationship with the UK Jewish community. Prominent Jewish organizations, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council, accused Labour under Corbyn of institutional anti-Semitism.

That same year, three leading Jewish newspapers published a joint front page warning that a Labour government under Corbyn posed an “existential threat to Jewish life in Britain.” This was a rare and powerful statement, underscoring how deeply trust had been eroded. At the grassroots level, Jewish members and MPs spoke of feeling unwelcome or unsafe in the party. Luciana Berger, a Jewish MP who was subject to persistent online abuse, eventually resigned in 2019, citing a culture of anti-Semitism and bullying. She was joined by other Labour figures who left the party for similar reasons.

In 2019, the BBC aired a Panorama documentary titled Is Labour Anti-Semitic?, which featured whistleblowers from the party’s complaints department alleging political interference and a culture of denial. Labour's official response was to dismiss the programme as biased, a move that triggered public backlash and legal threats. While Corbyn loyalists claimed the documentary was part of a wider conspiracy by political and media elites, many observers viewed Labour's dismissal of the allegations as another failure to acknowledge the gravity of the problem.

The consequences for Labour were profound. The 2019 general election campaign was plagued by the issue. Corbyn was repeatedly questioned about anti-Semitism during interviews and public events, often responding with generalized denials or redirecting the conversation. His approval ratings plummeted, and Labour suffered its worst defeat since 1935. While Brexit and other factors undoubtedly played a role, polling showed that concerns over anti-Semitism were a significant reason some traditional Labour voters either abstained or turned to other parties.

After stepping down in 2020, Corbyn was succeeded by Keir Starmer, who pledged to rebuild trust with the Jewish community and restore Labour's moral credibility. One of Starmer’s first major actions was to commission an independent inquiry by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). The resulting report, published in October 2020, found Labour responsible for “unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination.” It cited political interference in complaints processes and a lack of adequate training and procedures for dealing with anti-Semitism. The EHRC ordered the party to make urgent reforms.

Following the report, Starmer apologized publicly and suspended Corbyn from the Labour Party over his response to the findings. Corbyn had said that while anti-Semitism was “absolutely abhorrent,” the scale of the problem had been “dramatically overstated for political reasons.” This comment was widely seen as undermining the EHRC’s conclusions. Although Corbyn was later readmitted as a Labour member, he was not reinstated as a parliamentary Labour MP, effectively sidelining him within the party he once led.

The episode left deep scars in the Labour Party and the broader British political landscape. For many, it was a cautionary tale of how progressive movements can fail minorities within their own ranks if internal accountability and moral clarity are not maintained. It also raised complex questions about the boundaries between criticism of Israel and anti-Semitism, the role of factionalism in political parties, and the influence of media narratives.

For Corbyn's supporters, the anti-Semitism controversy remains a matter of contested truth—one they see as politically motivated and exaggerated to neutralize a leader who challenged the status quo. For his detractors, it stands as a moral failing of leadership, in which denial, delay, and deflection took precedence over decisive action to protect marginalized members. Regardless of one’s stance, it is clear that the Labour Party's handling of anti-Semitism during the Corbyn era represents one of the most significant crises of modern British political life—a period that will be studied for years as a case study in leadership, identity politics, and organizational integrity.