A SENIOR Tory councillor has clashed with York Central Labour MP Rachael Maskell over her stance on anti-Semitism and the Labour Party.

Cllr John Galvin said he found the ‘reluctance of some politicians to commit to a simple definition of anti-Semitism quite shocking,’ and claimed Ms Maskell had repeatedly refused to clarify her position.

But the MP said she found it ‘appalling’ that on a matter so serious,York Conservatives should say she had refused to comment when she had repeatedly made her position clear, on both national and local media.

The row comes as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn remains embroiled in controversy over whether the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IRHA) definition of anti-Semitism should be adopted in full.

Cllr Galvin said that amidst a disturbing rise of anti-Semitic rhetoric throughout the country, City of York Council’s Conservative Group was seeking a clear commitment from all York politicians to support the definition.

He said: “We find the inability of some politicians and political groups to unequivocally denounce bigotry against Jews and the reluctance of some politicians to commit to a simple definition of anti-Semitism quite shocking.

“York knows more than many cities the horrors of anti-Semitism from the historic events of 1190, so it’s particularly concerning that York Central’s Labour MP has repeatedly refused to clarify her position on this issue and ignored numerous requests on social media to do so.”

Ms Maskell said the ‘horrific genocide’ of Jewish people throughout history must not only be condemned but all forms of anti-Semitism must be rooted out of society today. “This is why I have clearly spoken out on the issue and met regularly with York’s Jewish Community,” she said.

“I find it appalling that on a matter so serious, that York Conservatives have chosen to say that I have refused to comment. This month, I have been on national media, including BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions panel, discussing anti-Semitism at length, as well as prominently speaking on BBC Radio York on three occasions to specifically speak on the IHRA definition.

“York Conservatives have my number and on no occasion have they sought to contact me or my office.”

She added that it went to the heart of her faith, as a Christian, ‘that we live in a society that is intolerant of prejudice and embraces people of all faith, race, culture and from all nations.’

She said that in consultation with Jewish communities, Labour had adopted the IHRA working definition word-for-word and had further included additional detail from the UN Charter on Human Rights, the Home Affairs Select Committee Report 2016 and a report authored by Shami Chakrabarti, former Director of Liberty, to ‘ensure there was no ambiguity as to how the definition would be applied.’