There have been calls for the Mayor of London to “unequivocally condemn” Jeremy Corbyn’s “unacceptable behaviour” amid a fresh anti-Semitism row in the Labour Party.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn came under fire after it was discovered in 2011 he wrote a foreword to a book – JA Hobson’s Imperialism: A Study – which suggested banks were controlled by Jews.

In the book the author argues European finance was controlled “by men of a single and peculiar race”.

Now Conservative London Assembly Member Gareth Bacon has written to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan about the issue asking him to issue a statement which “condemns Jeremy Corbyn’s endorsement” of the “racist” publication.

Mr Bacon said he was “horrified” to learn Mr Corbyn had written the foreword in a book which contains “deeply offensive anti-Semitic passages”.

The letter continued: “You have consistently said that anti-Semitism is a cancer which has no place in the Labour Party.

“In line with this I believe that it is both necessary and appropriate for you to issue a statement which unreservedly condemns Jeremy Corbyn’s endorsement of this racist publication.

“By doing so, your words will help to reassure vulnerable Jewish Londoners that this sort of disgusting racism will not be tolerated in our great city.

“I would be grateful if you could confirm that you will stand up for London’s Jewish community and unequivocally condemn Jeremy Corbyn’s unacceptable behaviour.”