SNP councillor claims her party would sign sign-up to an international definition of anti-Englishness

Mhairi Hunter made the comment online as she waded into the row over anti-Semitism within the Labour party.

Earlier this week three leading Jewish newspaper claimed anti-Semitism had coursed through the Labour party since Jeremy Corbyn became its UK leader.

That was followed by comments made by singer Billy Bragg, who insisted the Jewish community was “pouring petrol on the fire”.

In response, Ms Hunter, who is also Glasgow’s Convener for Health and Social Care, said: “I see echoes in Labour people being defensive on accusations of anti-Semitism with our defensiveness on accusations of anti-Englishness but here’s the difference: if there was an international definition of anti-Englishness the SNP would sign up to it in a nano-second with no debate.

“We would embrace it, we would shout it from the rooftops because it gives you a chance to reassure people who believe you are guilty of prejudice even if you don’t accept you are. I don’t understand why someone like Billy Bragg can’t see that. Genuinely bewildering.”

In their articles, the Jewish Chronicle, Jewish News and Jewish Telegraph said a Jeremy Corbyn-led government would be an “existential threat to Jewish life”.

Mr Bragg responded to those comments and said: “We have to build trust between Labour and the Jewish community and this does not help achieve that. It’s pouring petrol on the fire.

“I don’t deny that Labour have a problem with anti-Semitism but I don’t believe that Corbyn represents an ‘existential threat’ to the Jewish community.”

Meanwhile, Glasgow’s Labour group have insisted that the entire UK party should accept the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) guidelines and definition of anti-Semitism.

Leader Frank McAveety said: “The Jewish community have made a very significant contribution to the Labour movement in Scotland, and to our city. That contribution is both immense and on-going.

“Glasgow Labour Group have adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism in full, with no qualifications. We have done so because we believe that it is up to the Jewish community to define antisemitism.

“It is our responsibility to listen carefully, and with the utmost respect, to the Jewish community when they take the unprecedented steps they have taken in recent months to express their hurt and anger. The Labour Party’s National Executive Committee should listen and adopt the IHRA definition in full, with no qualifications.

We are grateful to have a good working relationship with the Jewish community in and around Glasgow. We cherish this working relationship and will continue to do all we can to stamp out racism and antisemitism from our party and our city.”

Last month Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken said the local authority would work with the Scottish Government to stamp out hatred and discrimination against the Jewish community.

And she welcomed the Scottish Government’s adoption of the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism.