Harriet Harman sparked an anti-Semitism row after she told an "appalling" anti-Semitic joke during a live TV appearance.
The Labour MP was speaking on BBC politics show This Week when she gave examples of ‘jokes’ she had heard in the past that she had ‘protested about’.
She told host Andrew Neil: “I’ll give you two examples I have protested about. They were offensive and hurtful.
“This was a Guy’s Hospital rag magazine back in the day and people like Andrew say these things are perfectly alright. One was how do you get 100 Jews into a Mini – one in the driving seat and 99 in the ash tray. That is not funny.”
Harman was immediately cut-off by an angry Neil, who told her not to give the second example.
“We will stop with that one example and we won’t bother with a minute’s silence. That you would dare to think what I would think of that, because you have no idea.”
The politician tried to interject but Neil shut her down once more, telling her to “be quiet”.
He later expanded his feelings on the incident on Twitter, telling his followers he was ‘appalled’ by what Harman had said.
The broadcaster wrote: “What was wrong was 1) to tell that so called joke on live TV. 2) Claim that I would like the joke. Appalling on both counts”.
Elsewhere on social media, many demanded that Harman apologise to Neil for her comments. One wrote: “Are you having a laugh? @HarrietHarman should apologise for telling a deeply anti-Semitic holocaust ‘joke’ & claiming @afneil would approve!”
Another declared: “Harriet Harman owes @afneil a public apology after #bbctw tonight. Shocking.”
Others, however, felt that Neil was the one at fault for interrupting Harman and not permitting her to continue speaking.
“I’m not a fan of Harriet Harman but quite unbelievable that Andrew Neill just told her to ‘be quiet’ in a conversation about offense [sic].”
“#thisweek I just heard Andrew Neil dismissively tell Harriet Harman to “be quiet”. Unbelievable”.
