MOVING words on the fight against anti-Semitism from a Glasgow councillor received a standing ovation in the city chambers.

Bailie Martin Bartos, whose great aunt was in a concentration camp, gave a passionate speech in favour of accepting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism, a motion put forward by the Labour Group.

However, Tory councillors were slammed for trying to “play party politics” after raising issues with “institutional anti-Semitism” in the Labour Party.

Mr Bartos said: “My family come from Central Europe, we are therefore not ignorant to the issues and the horrors which occurred during the Second World War.

Read more: Labour motion to accept anti-Semitism definition

“I cannot begin to imagine what it was my great aunt suffered, not just when her family were exterminated but when she was treated as an animal and confined in a concentration camp.

“It is certainly right that this chamber takes a clear and unequivocal stand against anti-Semitism.”

The Green Party member asked councillors to unite around the first line of a Tory amendment, which stated “all political parties must work to tackle antisemitism at every opportunity.” This was accepted by all parties.

Earlier in the meeting, Tory councillor Euan Blockley said: “It takes courage to bring this to the chamber when your party’s hierarchy, particularly Jeremy Corbyn, is so opposed to doing anything about it. Unfortunately it has been made political because of Labour’s inaction.”

SNP councillor Graham Campbell blasted the Tories for “crass opportunism” and “playing party politics”.

He said “your hypocrisy is rank on this”, citing “deeply embedded” Islamophobia in the Tory Party.

Mr Campbell added Jeremy Corbyn regularly attended anti-racist demonstrations.

“I’ve known Jeremy Corbyn personally for 30 years. I’ve been on anti-Fascist and anti-racist demonstrations with him throughout my time when I lived in Islington North.

“I can tell you I don’t remember seeing any one of the Conservative politicians of the day on any of those demonstrations against Holocaust-denying fascists.”

He admitted the Labour Party had been slow to react to antisemitism and deserved criticism for that.

Read more of today's top Glasgow stories 

Labour councillor Aileen McKenzie said: “There are members in our party who have been absolutely abhorrent and we’ve not been quick enough to deal with them.

“The political sphere is a circle and you can become the point where you are so far to the left that you spin round and find yourself on the far right.”