James O'Brien clashes with caller over Jeremy Corbyn suspension

30 October 2020, 11:49

James O'Brien clashes with caller over Jeremy Corbyn suspension

By Sam Sholli

This is the moment James O'Brien clashed with a caller over Jeremy Corbyn's suspension from the Labour Party.

The exchange comes as a report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found the party was responsible for unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination.

Mr Corbyn rejected some of the equality watchdog's findings and claimed the issue had been "dramatically overstated for political reasons" by his critics - a stance that put him at odds with his successor Sir Keir Starmer and led to him having the whip removed on Thursday.

Naz from Bedford told James: "Unfortunately, the Labour Party and especially Keir Starmer [have] got it completely wrong. Jeremy Corbyn has been a long upstanding member of the Labour Party.

"His support for the Palestinian people has unfortunately got him into this mess."

Keir Starmer explains why Jeremy Corbyn was suspended from Labour

However, James took issue with the caller's argument and responded: "So Jeremy Corbyn's support for Palestinian people is the reason why Ken Livingstone harassed a Jewish person?"

Later in the exchange, Naz said: "James, all I'm saying to you is there's a video [that has] been released by Chris Williamson -"

James replied: "That, I think, is the point at which we probably part company, isn't it?"

Keir Starmer denies ‘schism’ within Labour

James then asked the caller why Mr Corbyn couldn't leave out the part of his response to the report which said the scale of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party during his tenure as leader had been "overstated for political reasons".

However, Naz didn't answer the question, prompting James to say: "You can't even hear me, Naz.

"You've got your fingers wedged so far into your ears, you're live on national radio talking to another human being who asked you a really straightforward question...and you didn't even hear it, did you?"

Caller James admits to dangerous e-scooter driving whilst backing better safety regulations

Caller James admits to dangerous e-scooter driving whilst backing better safety regulations

James O'Brien caller on water

Caller explains how ‘corporate finance’ has been ‘catastrophic’ for water companies

LBC caller John believes police were 'right' to release Liverpool suspect's ethnicity

LBC caller John believes police were 'right' to release Liverpool suspect's ethnicity

'Mate, I love you'

James' conversation with Barry, who had a chemical castration, takes an unexpectedly wholesome turn

James vs LBC caller: Immigration debate ends more amicably than it starts

James O'Brien vs LBC caller: Immigration debate ends more amicably than it starts

'Necessary and important': British-Israeli caller phones James O'Brien

'Necessary and important': British-Israeli caller phones James O'Brien

James O'Brien's callers praise EU deal

James O'Brien's callers praise EU deal

Brexiteer calls James O’Brien ‘to see how many times he’d be interrupted’

Brexiteer calls James O’Brien ‘to see how many times he’d be interrupted’

LBC caller warns that graduates risk becoming 'economic slaves'

LBC caller warns that graduates risk becoming 'economic slaves'

Fishing Industry Consultant debunks 'complete lies' about water pollution

Fishing industry consultant tells James O'Brien we were 'lied to' about water pollution

James O'Brien callers feel 'targeted' by Labour's immigration rhetoric

James O'Brien's callers feel 'targeted' by Labour's immigration rhetoric

James O'Brien is joined by Sadiq Khan to take your calls

Speak to Sadiq: Mayor of London joins James O'Brien to take your calls

LBC caller blames migration for NHS waiting times

LBC caller blames migration for NHS waiting times

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

'Vance saw Francis... we might be onto something'

LBC caller jokes that JD Vance's visit to the late pope might've paved the way for an American pope

"Things have to get a little bit dirty"

Caller Alexander thinks that "things have to get dirty" to stop Reform