Labour suspends blogger who allegedly demanded to know if BBC interviewer was a “Zionist” after Corbyn’s performance is ridiculed

Labour member Phillip Jones has reportedly been suspended by the Labour Party pending investigation over a tweet in which he allegedly demanded to know whether a BBC interviewer was a “Zionist”.

BBC journalist Emma Barnett had just interviewed Jeremy Corbyn on Woman’s Hour, during which she repeatedly asked him to give the costs of the Labour Party’s childcare pledge. Mr Corbyn was pilloried for his performance, leading various Twitter users, including antisemites whom we have been aware of for some time, to claim that Ms Barnett had deliberately tripped Mr Corbyn up because she is a “Zionist”.

The “Labour Insider” Twitter account allegedly used by Mr Jones demanded more information, asking: “Allegations have surfaced that @EmmaBarnett is a Zionist. Are the allegations true Emma?”

According to The Times, Mr Jones insisted he did not personally post the offending tweet but he has been suspended pending investigation.

Mr Jones has not yet responded to Campaign Against Antisemitism, and when we tweeted the “Labour Insider” account, we were blocked within minutes.

***BREAKING NEWS***

Allegations have surfaced that @Emmabarnett is a Zionist.

Are the allegations true Emma?

— Labour Insider (@Labour_Insider) May 30, 2017