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A VETERAN Labour MP today repeated her claim that Jeremy Corbyn is a racist because of his failure to tackle anti-Semitism - as the party deliberately delayed a key vote which could have change the party's rules.

Margaret Hodge refused to withdraw the bombshell allegation and said the Labour leader's actions showed he doesn't take anti-Jewish bigotry seriously.

 Margaret Hodge has refused to apologise for calling Jeremy Corbyn a racist
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Margaret Hodge has refused to apologise for calling Jeremy Corbyn a racistCredit: PA:Press Association

The MP has lodged a formal legal complaint accusing Labour bosses of trying to "silence" her.

Last week, Dame Margaret confronted Mr Corbyn in the Commons and told him: "You're a f**king anti-Semite and a racist."

She was furious over Labour's decision to adopt a new definition of anti-Semitism which allows activists to compare Israel to Nazi Germany.

Today Dame Margaret refused to apologise or backtrack, telling the BBC's Today programme: "You can carry on proclaiming you’re not anti-Semitic - it’s like saying you’re 'not a racist, but' - but it’s by his actions that he has to be judged.

 Mr Corbyn is under pressure from Labour MPs over anti-Semitism
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Mr Corbyn is under pressure from Labour MPs over anti-SemitismCredit: Rex Features

And this evening the party have delayed a key vote on the anti-Semitism rules which have caused so much fury among the party.

Just minutes before the final meeting of the party's MPs before the summer break, they were all sent a text saying that the emergency motion shall not be discussed until September.

Mr Corbyn yesterday called for the meeting to be postponed - claiming not enough people would turn up because MPs have already gone on holiday.

 Jewish activists protesting against Labour earlier this year
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Jewish activists protesting against Labour earlier this yearCredit: EPA

Ms Hodge said earlier today: "I think what has happened over the last months - from failure to respond to anti-Semitism against Labour party members, from failure to respond to the massive demonstration by the Jewish community, culminating in the failure to adopt in full the universally used definition of anti-Semitism is just a bridge too far."

Dame Margaret also criticised the Labour leadership for launching disciplinary action against her over her blast at Mr Corbyn.

She said: "Within 12 hours of actually talking to Jeremy Corbyn face-to-face I received a disciplinary letter - 12 hours.

"Think how long it has taken for the Labour Party to respond at all to any of the allegations of anti-Semitism."

And she described receiving a string of abusive message from far-left activists calling her a "Zionist bitch" who's controlled by Israel.

The MP, who beat off a threat from the BNP in her Barking seat eight years ago, compared the anti-Semitism scandal to the battle with the far-right.

Jeremy Corbyn urges MPs to put off anti-Semitism debate until September


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