Nearly two thirds of the public think Labour has a problem with racism as Corbyn faces searing criticism from his own MPs for failing to tackle anti-Semitism

New survey found that 61% of people think Labour has a problem with prejudice
And 52% think Jeremy Corbyn handled anti-Semitism row badly, BMG poll found
Labour MPs spoke of the abuse they suffered in an emotional debate last night

By Kate Ferguson, Political Correspondent For Mailonline

Published: 09:54 BST, 18 April 2018 | Updated: 13:29 BST, 18 April 2018

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Almost two thirds of the public think Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party has a problem with racism or religious prejudice - with only Ukip rating worst.

The survey comes after Labour MPs last night rounded on their leader as they told of the torrent of anti-Semitism abuse they have received.

In an emotionally charged debate, Ruth Smeeth - a female Jewish MP - was applauded by her colleagues after she told of the threats and abuse she received.

Labour MP Luciana Berger told how she had been targeted by Corbynistas, branded an 'absolute parasite, told to go 'back home' to Israel after she spoke out.

And in a highly emotional speech, John Mann told how his wife was threatened with rape and received dead birds through the letterbox after he spoke out aagainst abuse.

The poll found that 61 per cent of people think Labour has a problem, with only Ukip scoring worse on 67 per cent.

Almost two thirds of the public think Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party has a problem with racism or religious prejudice - with only Ukip rating worst.

In an emotionally charged debate, Ruth Smeeth - a female Jewish MP - was applauded by her colleagues after she told of the threats and abuse she received for speaking out about anti-Semitism

In contrast, just 12 per cent thought the party had no problem, the survey, commissioned by The Independent, found.

While over half of those polled (52 per cent) said they thought Mr Corbyn had handled the anti-Semitism row 'badly' - with 27 per cent saying they thought he has dealt with the row 'very badly'.

What did Labour MPs say about anti-Semitism and Labour's failure to tackle it

In extraordinary scenes in the Commons last night, Labour MPs condemned their leadership's failure to root out anti-Semitism.

And many told of the abuse they received for daring to speak out.

Here is some of what they said:

John Mann, Labour MP for Bassetlaw and chairman of the all party group against anti-Semitism:

'I didn't expect my son after an Islamist death threat to open the door in the house on his own as a schoolboy to the bomb squad.

'I didn't expect my wife, in the last few weeks from a leftist anti-Semite in response to the demonstration, to be threatened with rape.

'I didn't expect my daughter similarly, and have to be rung up in the last few weeks by special branch to check out her movements in this country.'

Luciana Berger, Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, said:

'My party urgently needs to address this issue, publicly and consistently and we need to expel those people from our ranks who hold these views - including Ken Livingstone.'

Ruth Smeeth, Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent North

'I stand here today to say that we will not be bullied out of political engagement, we are going nowhere and we stand and will keep fighting until the evils of anti-Semitism have been removed from our society.'

Ian Austin, Labour MP for Dudley North:

'Let's be really clear about it: Ken Livingstone comparing, claiming, that Hitler was a Zionist - this is anti-Semitism pure and simple, happened more than two years ago, there has been ample time to deal with it.

The poll of 1,500 people quizzed Britons on their views on whether or not they thought the main political parties have a problem with racism.

The Tories fared better that Labour with 55 per cent of people saying it has a problem,

While the Lib Dems were seen to be the least prejudiced with 43 per cent saying it had a problem.

The findings pile further pressure on Mr Corbyn after was rounded on in the Commons last night for failing to root out anti-Semitism among his supporters.

In the powerful Commons session, MP after MP stood up to tell of the death and rape threats and abuse they received after speaking out against anti-Semitism.

Ms Smeeth said: 'I've been the target of abuse from people who say I have no place in the party I have been in for 20 years.'

Miss Berger also said she had received abuse at the hands of people using the hashtag JC4PM (Jeremy Corbyn for prime minister).

She said: 'It is anti-Semitism of the worst kind; suggesting that I'm a traitor to our country, they have called me 'Judas', a 'Zio-Nazi', an 'absolute parasite', telling me to 'get out of this country and to go back to Israel'.

'My party urgently needs to address this issue publicly and consistently. We have a duty to the next generation. Denial is not an option. …The time for action is now. Enough really is enough.'

Luciana Berger, Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, said she had received abuse at the hands of people using the hashtag JC4PM (Jeremy Corbyn for Prime Minister).

She added: 'My party urgently needs to address this issue, publicly and consistently and we need to expel those people from our ranks who hold these views - including Ken Livingstone.'

Labour MP John Mann, chairman of the all-party group on anti-Semitism, said Jewish people were 'scared' to be in the party.