'I'm no anti-Semite' says Corbyn
Jeremy Corbyn insisted he was not an anti-Semite, saying he had opposed all forms of racism since his time as a young man in Shropshire during the 1970s.
But Mr Corbyn said he did regret using language in the past which had been "misinterpreted."
Mr Corbyn, who grew up in Pave Lane near Newport, spoke out after a coming under intense pressure about allegations of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party.
This week there were extraordinary scenes in London where a number of Labour MPs attended a demonstration about his handling of a row about an anti-Semitic mural.
Mr Corbyn said he had been a passionate campaigner against racism for all of his political life, and was totally opposed to anti-Semitism.
The Labour leader was a member of Shropshire Campaign Against Racism in the 1970s, and campaigned against the 1971 Immigration Act.
He said: "All of my life I have opposed racism in any form, be it National Front, BNP, English Defence League, whatever else during my time as an MP for Islington North, before that as a councillor in Haringey, and before that as an anti-racist activist in rural Shropshire in the 1970s.
"I go back a long way."
Earlier this week, Mr Corbyn apologised to Jewish leaders after it emerged he had questioned the need to remove an anti-Semitic mural from London's East End.
The painting, by American graffiti artist Mears One, depicted a group of hook-nosed Jewish bankers playing Monopoly on a board resting on the naked backs of workers.
Mr Corbyn said he regretted the comments he made on Facebook in 2012, in which he appeared to object to its removal.
But Mr Corbyn this week said he had not seen the painting at the time he made his comments. He said he was just commenting about the principal of free speech.
“I sincerely regret that I did not look more closely at the image I was commenting on, the contents of which are deeply disturbing and antisemitic,” he said.
“The defence of free speech cannot be used as a justification for the promotion of anti-Semitism in any form. That is a view I’ve always held.”
Mr Corbyn said anti-Semitism had no place in society.
"Anti-Semitism is a cancer in our society that has resurfaced across Europe and in Britain, it has affected many people's lives, and has to be challenged.
He added that he did not support the views of Palestinian extremist groups Hamas and Hezbollah, but believed it was right to talk to them in pursuit of peace.
"Any society that wants to embark on a peace process has to engage with people they don't agree with, otherwise you will never get peace."
He said he regretted referring to members of Hamas and Hezbollah 'friends'.
"I obviously realise this can be misinterpreted, I clearly do not support their views. I apologise for any hurt caused."
