Last week Mr Corbyn faced intense criticism, following accusations of anti-Semitism within his ranks, leading to the expulsion of MP Naz Shah, former London mayor Ken Livingstone, and another 16 Labour members. But many supporters of the embattled Labour leader have argued that this part of a calculated smear campaign, designed to erode Mr Corbyn's popularity.
In an interview with Open Democracy, the Jewish author Norman G Finkelstein criticized the so-called "scandal" of anti-Semitism, which he believes is making political capital out of tragedy:
"All these desiccated Labour apparatchiks, dragging the Nazi holocaust through the mud for the sake of their petty jostling for power and position. Have they no shame?"
The Jewish Socialists' Group (JSG) were critical too, releasing a statement last week, saying:
"Current fearmongering about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party [is] a conscious and concerted effort by right-wing political forces to undermine the growing support among Jews and non-Jews alike for the Labour Party leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, and a measure of the desperation of his opponents."
This is what the Jewish Socialists Group says about the disgusting anti-Semitic smear campaign against Labour pic.twitter.com/Szxa3GIIvK
— Scott Nelson (@TheMockneyRebel) April 29, 2016
Under Pressure
Nevertheless, the Corbyn leadership is clearly feeling the pressure from within the parliamentary Labour Party, many of whom have made little secret of their hostility towards the left-wing leader.
Jeremy Corbyn became the leader of the UK Labour party in 2015 with the largest mandate ever won by a party leader in the UK, at 51%. Corbyn's popularity though, is not replicated within the parliamentary party, which has been shifting to the right politically ever since the leadership of Tony Blair.
Big up #Corbyn for trying to focus on REAL issues at #PMQs: Homelessness up by a third since Cameron appointed PM & rising again this year
— Anastasia Kyriacou (@AnastasiaKyria) May 4, 2016
His own critics concede #Corbyn's impossible to defeat. So @UKLabour #PLP, why not stop plotting & start supporting? pic.twitter.com/MM2qT4uKnk
— Rachel Burgess (@LilMsSocialist) May 4, 2016
The timely furor over "anti-Semitism" also coincides with a bitterly fought campaign for London Mayor, in which the Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith has leveled accusations at Labour's Muslim candidate Sadiq Khan of harboring terrorist sympathies — this in reference to individuals represented by Khan during his career as a human rights lawyer.
The conservative wing of the UK Labour party may be quietly hoping for a poor result in tomorrow's local elections, given that it would weaken Jeremy Corbyn's credibility.
Those who might hope to oust the Labour leader at this stage would struggle, as his support amongst party membership remains strong. That said, the argument over whether his left-wing leadership is an electoral liability or not, will undoubtedly be put to the test this week.
