Should Nick Clegg have sacked Jenny Tonge?

Clegg has not gone far enough. Look at the Palestine Telegraph, of which Tonge is a Patron. It carries articles which are so antisemitic that they could appear on the David Duke or Stormfront website. Clegg should have thrown her out of the LibDem party as well. Her latest remarks blaming the Zionists and the Israel lobby prove she is incorrigible. She has previously stated that Jews should be ashamed of Israel's actions, so it is clear she is linking Jews with Zionists and is now employing the word Zionist as a fig-leaf for what might charitably be interpreted as an ambivalent attitude to Jews. There appear to be some among the Lib Dems, to judge from comments on the party website regarding this issue, who seem to believe that offending the Jewish community with what is tantamount to a Blood Libel can be tolerated by the party, since the number of Jews in this country is relatively very small. That argument is illiberal, unworthy of a party with Liberal in its title; it is reprehensibly cynical and immoral, and if Mr Clegg has any moral backbone he will now dismiss the recalcitrant baroness from his party altogether.

Throwing people out of the lib dem party for supporting Palestine would be very counterproductive. While there are few who would support the line that the Palestine Telegraph takes many people would support their right to take that line if they wish. (admittedly having only read a few articles) they do not seem to be overtly anti semitic (although they are more overtly anti israel but this should not be surprising). There are a great many people who think that Israel goes too far in its actions against the palestinians and this does not make them anti-semitic, Israel seems to be determined that being anti Israel (or even anti settlers) makes someone anti semitic which is wrong.

The Palestinian Telegraph article can indeed seen as 'blood libel' however it should not be an issue for in the Tonge case. She did not endorse the article simply called for an investigation which to me seems to be something quite different. Surely most people reading the article would be alarmed by what it says and ask is it true? That kind of question needs evidence one way or the other. At the moment there are simply unsubstantiated claims with absolutely NO evidence whatsoever beind them. That does not mean that there should not be an investigation to prove that it is completely false. Simply accusing the other side and preventing such an investigation while silencing someone who obviosuly wants such an investigation does not help. Such an investigation would however probably be best as an overall (worldwide) investigation into human trafficing and organ donations, this would likely save lives rather than an investigation focusing on Israel which would simply be using up time to show that the accusation really is groundless.