Jeremy Corbyn’s office was accused last night of trying to cover up allegations of antisemitism against far-left student activists at Oxford university.
The Labour leader’s office intervened to stop the party launching an investigation into the claims, instead “hiding” the issue by subsuming it into a wider inquiry, insiders claimed. Mr Corbyn’s spokesman denied the allegations.
James Elliott, 22, a prominent activist with Momentum, the pro-Corbyn group, was accused of antisemitism by other students, according to testimonies seen by The Times. He denies all accusations.
Labour announced an investigation into individuals in its youth wing last week but sources said that Katy Clark, Mr Corbyn’s political secretary, intervened to ensure the term “antisemitism” was left out of an official statement. A spokesman for Mr Corbyn denied that Ms Clark or the Labour leader’s team had interfered.
•Reports emerged yesterday that Tommy Corbyn, the Labour leader’s youngest son, complained to police that he was “headbutted” as he left a nightclub on Saturday.
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•A left-wing activist, Tommy had hosted a Party for Palestine event in York, where he studies electrical engineering, it is understood, before heading to Mansion club where he suffered a cut near his eye at 4am. Police in York yesterday confirmed that they were investigating an allegation of assault on a 22-year-old man.