Sultana says Corbyn surrendered on defining antisemitism under pressure.

Zarah Sultana Criticizes Jeremy Corbyn Over Antisemitism Definition, Sparking Political Backlash

Labour MP Zarah Sultana has publicly criticized former party leader Jeremy Corbyn, claiming he “capitulated” to external pressure when accepting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism during his time at the helm of the Labour Party.

In an interview with New Left Review, Sultana—who recently co-founded a new political movement alongside Corbyn—expressed admiration for the mass appeal and grassroots energy of Corbynism. However, she argued that the movement made serious compromises, particularly in its response to criticism over alleged antisemitism within Labour. She specifically condemned the adoption of the IHRA definition, which she says conflates antisemitism with anti-Zionism—a political stance she identifies with and defends publicly.

“The movement was too fearful and conciliatory,” Sultana said, accusing it of failing to stand up to attacks. She further argued that institutions like the media and the state should be seen as adversaries, warning against giving them “an inch” in political disputes.

The controversy stems from Labour’s 2018 decision to formally adopt the IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism. This decision followed intense internal debate and criticism from Jewish organisations, some of whom felt Labour’s interpretation included too many caveats designed to protect free speech about Israel and Palestine.

Sultana’s comments have drawn strong criticism. The Board of Deputies of British Jews called her remarks “a grave insult,” and accused her of undermining the fight against antisemitism. Andrew Gilber, the board’s vice president, emphasized that the IHRA definition is widely accepted by the British Jewish community and provides a clear, consistent standard for identifying antisemitism.

Further criticism came from Alex Hearn, co-director of Labour Against Antisemitism, who dismissed Sultana as an extremist. He argued that her opposition to the definition is unsurprising, given her political history. Hearn also challenged the claim that Kenneth Stern, one of the IHRA definition’s drafters, was its “lead author”—a label used by Sultana to support her critique. Stern has previously spoken out against how the IHRA definition has been applied, warning it is sometimes misused to silence criticism of Israel.

Hearn countered that Stern’s influence has been exaggerated to discredit a definition essential for protecting Jewish people from harassment, especially in the wake of what he describes as systemic failures under Corbyn’s leadership.

In response to the backlash, Sultana doubled down on her anti-Zionist stance, taking to social media to reject the accusations. She described the criticisms as “smears,” reaffirmed her commitment to anti-Zionism, and accused mainstream media of serving ruling class interests rather than the truth. In a follow-up post, she also criticized the media’s silence over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the killing of Palestinian journalists, asserting, “Legacy media are not our allies.”

This renewed debate over antisemitism and Zionism has once again brought Corbyn’s leadership legacy into the spotlight. Although he remains a popular figure among parts of the left, Corbyn’s handling of antisemitism complaints was a major factor in his downfall. In 2019, after Labour’s general election defeat, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) launched an investigation into the party’s conduct under Corbyn’s leadership. The watchdog concluded there were multiple breaches of the Equality Act.

Corbyn rejected the findings, claiming the scale of the problem had been exaggerated by political opponents. However, his successor, Keir Starmer, took swift action—suspending Corbyn from the party and preventing him from standing as a Labour candidate in the 2024 general election.

A senior Labour source commented: “Jeremy Corbyn nearly led the party to extinction. Keir Starmer’s leadership has rooted out antisemitism. We’re not going back.”

As Corbyn and Sultana push forward with their new political venture, their stance on Israel, antisemitism, and media criticism is likely to continue provoking heated debate within British politics.