Pro-Brexit Group Leave.EU’s ‘Disgraceful’ Tweet Linking Labour Anti-Semitism To Muslim Voters Provokes Outrage

'There's some sick twisted and bigoted people on this platform'.
Arron Banks, the millionaire Ukip donor behind the Leave.EU campaign.
Arron Banks, the millionaire Ukip donor behind the Leave.EU campaign.
PA Archive/PA Images

An “offensive” tweet by pro-Brexit organisation Leave.EU has provoked outrage after suggesting anti-Semitism in the Labour Party is a result of “Britain’s exploding Muslim population”.

The controversial tweet said: “Is it any wonder that Labour can’t be bothered to deal with the disgusting antisemitism in their party when they are so reliant on the votes of Britain’s exploding Muslim population? It’s a question of maths for these people, not justice!”

Labour MP David Lammy reported the tweet to the police and the All Party Parliamentary Group for British Muslims has called on Leave.EU to withdraw the “inflammatory” post and apologise.

Is it any wonder that Labour can't be bothered to deal with the disgusting antisemitism in their party when they are so reliant on the votes of Britain's exploding Muslim population? It's a question of maths for these people, not justice!

Support us at https://t.co/ntwXbJeHQw pic.twitter.com/klQoCIzxYF

— Leave.EU (@LeaveEUOfficial) March 29, 2018

Tory MP and co-chairman of the APPG for British Muslims, Anna Soubry, said: “This tweet is thoroughly distasteful and offensive. It is also nothing to do with leaving the EU.

“It is however proof that Leave.EU is a front organisation for a far-right group that is more interested in spreading hatred and creating division than upholding British values of respect and tolerance.”

The Board of Deputies of British Jews led the condemnation.

Completely unacceptable from @LeaveEUOfficial - please delete and apologise now. Some of the best allies we have in the struggle against antisemitism are Muslims, @SadiqKhan, @TellMamaUK and more. This is not the way to challenge antisemitism. https://t.co/TQHlpLOq40

— Board of Deputies of British Jews (@BoardofDeputies) March 29, 2018

Hello @metpoliceuk I would like to report this crime. Please investigate. This tweet is a crime under the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006: "Use of threatening words or behaviour, or any written material which is threatening or intends thereby to stir up religious hatred." https://t.co/PEb9sCQKLM

— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) March 29, 2018

This is a disgraceful tweet. Muslims across the UK stand with our Jewish friends against anti-Semitism.

Hope anyone supportive of Leave EU will distance themselves from this hateful organisation and the division they are trying to cause between communities. https://t.co/GGBSEQ7hHy

— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) March 29, 2018

The state of this...there's some sick twisted and bigoted people on this platform and hope @TwitterUK will remove them accordingly for polluting their forum by inciting hatred. https://t.co/CxaMO0yT7g

— stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) March 29, 2018

This is horrendously racist on so many levels namely suggesting that Muslims are not horrified by anti-Semitism. https://t.co/iCqYOI0RFD

— Jess Phillips (@jessphillips) March 29, 2018

Thia has got to be the bottom of the barrel. Just take a look at the ways this account tries to pit communities against each other. Please do NOT use #Jews and #Muslims for your political point scoring. https://t.co/ezqzwf9gR8

— TellMAMAUK (@TellMamaUK) March 29, 2018

Dear @metpoliceuk

This tweet is troublesome & appears to stir up the narrative that Jews & Muslims are enemies. We fear stirring up this narrative could lead to some considering the use of violence.

Pls could u take a look at this tweet &take any action u feel is appropriate https://t.co/ndiSiaMopd

— Jewish Voice (@J_VoiceUK) March 29, 2018

What a disgusting tweet. Shame on you. https://t.co/n7nUAlOPN5

— Iain Dale (@IainDale) March 29, 2018

Labour MP Wes Streeting, who is co-chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for British Jews, said: “Muslim and Jewish communities will be disgusted by this cynical and nasty attempt to stir up hatred and division.

“Muslims and Jews know what it is to experience prejudice based on their race and religion and will stand together against this type of ugly rhetoric.

“Leave.EU should withdraw this tweet and apologise immediately.”

Despite the backlash, the tweet was defended by senior Leave.EU figures, including its founder, Ukip donor Arron Banks.

UnVoidable facts hurt. Labour rely on bloc Muslim vote... https://t.co/orpWnuZfwf

— Arron Banks (@Arron_banks) March 29, 2018

As usual the “elephant “ in the room can’t be discussed. Labour flooded with anti Jewish supporters as everyone knows https://t.co/e4kr6iTY9i

— Arron Banks (@Arron_banks) March 29, 2018

It was insulting Labour & you don’t need a degree in rocket science to work out why the anti Jewish feeling is so strong in Labour https://t.co/a8CVVzg92Q

— Arron Banks (@Arron_banks) March 29, 2018

Banks said: “You don’t need a degree in rocket science to work out why the anti-Jewish feeling is so strong in Labour.”

Former Ukip leadership candidate and adviser to Nigel Farage, Raheem Kassam, also defended it for “flushing a lot of pseudo conservatives out”, and arguing liberals are “chuntering their disgust while failing to acknowledge core demographic facts, as well as just how poorly Board of Deputies represents British Jews. Keep going, Arron Banks!”

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