Labour Grandee's Ballot Bombshell: 'Antisemite' Scrawled for Corbyn

Former Labour minister and grandee, Margaret Hodge, has made a startling revelation in her new memoir, "Battleaxe." She admitted to spoiling her ballot paper during the 2019 general election, writing "antisemite" across it as a protest against then-party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Hodge, who served as Labour MP for Barking for three decades and now sits in the House of Lords, had been a prominent critic of Corbyn, particularly over allegations of antisemitism within the party.

She described the election day, 12 December 2019, as "gruesome." Despite campaigning in her former constituency of Barking, she found herself voting in Corbyn's own constituency near Finsbury Park. Standing in the polling booth, pencil in hand, Hodge realised she simply "could not vote for him." This led to her decision to spoil the ballot with the stark accusation.

Corbyn has consistently denied accusations of antisemitism, stating he was "always determined to eliminate all forms of racism." The 82-year-old peer also revealed the extent of her opposition to Corbyn, stating she would have used her position as an MP to prevent him from becoming prime minister, had Labour won the election.

This included potentially voting against him in a motion of no confidence or rejecting his first budget.

Her memoir sheds new light on the deep divisions within the Labour Party during Corbyn's leadership.

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