Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn

• I WRITE concerning allegations of anti-Semitism, as a long-time member of the Labour Party, and someone who has known Jeremy Corbyn for many years. Politics is not black and white or even grey and people who try to present it as such do so at their peril.

I also agree with Pete Gilman (You do not have to be Jewish to condemn and oppose anti-semitism, September 5), when he points out that many of the allegations made against Corbyn and others are baseless and false.

What I find hard to understand is not that these allegations are being made but that people actually accept them as fact when they can see for themselves they are false, as Gilman explained.

Given the many Jewish people in Labour that I have met, it must make Labour the worst anti-Semitic party in the world as they keep electing Jews to senior office. When you look at things in perspective the allegations do not add up.

Labour is not perfect nor are all its membership saints. If you are active in a political party you are more passionate than an average person about politics.

Some people may be misinformed, true, but from my many years in the party, and the many people I have met in the party, I have found them to be open-minded, kind, compassionate and caring.

I have been on over 30 marches and there has been only three where I have seen any violent protesting; and that was mainly from people who were not Labour Party supporters. Most people in the party believe in peaceful protest and debate on policies and ideas.

If you want to be abusive and violent there are many other political groups you can join who encourage it.

You need to look at facts and not just a big sign on the side of bus or swallow the myths that some news media tell you. Look beyond the big sign and the hype.

RAPHAEL ANDREWS
Ex-councillor & still a Labour Party member