Thread by @TimesCorbyn

In the early 1980s the hard-Left tried to purge Labour of Jews.

This article from the @Spectator (December 1984) delves further into it and names two hard-Left politicians at the heart of it: Ken Livingstone & Jeremy Corbyn. 1/6

@spectator This article began with Livingstone comment that 'the Board of Deputies of British Jews were 'reactionaries and neo-fascists.

Livingstone at this time was in a long-term battle to kick-out & replace soft-Left Jewish Labour MP Reg Freeson in Brent East. 2/6

@spectator The article however, overlooked little John McDonnell, who had spent much of the 70s trying to kick out & replace the Jewish Labour MP for Hayes & Harlington, Neville Sandelson. 3/6

@spectator Corbyn of course didn't kick out a Jewish MP from Islington North, instead he got his best mates (Keith & Val Veness) using casual anti-Irish racism: 'Catholic Mafia' & 'Irish connection' & bully-boy tactics to force out the W/C Irish Labour MP Michael O'Halloran. 4/6

@spectator Corbyn himself though was instrumental in pushing out two high profile Jewish Labour members. He was part of the mob that was hounding Eric Moonman, a Jew and ex-Labour MP for Basildon out of the Party. 5/6

@spectator Corbyn was also the key reason why Philip Kleinman felt he had to resign from the Labour Party over Corbyn's support for the 'dissolution of Israel' and his support for the PLO (& IRA).

Corbyn's just finishing the job now. #anyonebutCorbyn 6/6

@spectator 'Some Jews believe that the Militant Tendency has a hit-list of Jewish Labour MPs for reselection'.

It wasn't Militant who had drawn up a hit-list, but its ally, Labour Briefing's Target 87.

'Jeremy Corbyn ... is said to have attended a key meeting at which a list of seats'