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| Tom Watson says Jeremy Corbyn didn't tell him about peerage nomination for Shami Chakrarbati | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson has joined Jewish community leaders in criticising Jeremy Corbyn for nominating Shami Chakrabarti for a peerage amid continuing disharmony in the Labour Party’s higher tiers. | Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson has joined Jewish community leaders in criticising Jeremy Corbyn for nominating Shami Chakrabarti for a peerage amid continuing disharmony in the Labour Party’s higher tiers. |
| A report by Ms Chakrabarti, published in June, cleared the party of endemic anti-Semitism. | A report by Ms Chakrabarti, published in June, cleared the party of endemic anti-Semitism. |
| Mr Watson said Ms Chakrabarti was “precisely” the sort of person who should sit in the Lords, but the nomination timing was “not great”, and said that he had not been told about the decision. | Mr Watson said Ms Chakrabarti was “precisely” the sort of person who should sit in the Lords, but the nomination timing was “not great”, and said that he had not been told about the decision. |
| Mr Corbyn had previously said he would never nominate anyone for a peerage. | Mr Corbyn had previously said he would never nominate anyone for a peerage. |
| Mr Watson told BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme: “The timing is not great for the Labour Party, I wasn't aware, I wasn't consulted on whether Shami was going in, I didn't know that we'd provided citations for this particular round. | Mr Watson told BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme: “The timing is not great for the Labour Party, I wasn't aware, I wasn't consulted on whether Shami was going in, I didn't know that we'd provided citations for this particular round. |
| “And I do think it's a mistake because I don't think I agree with resignation honours. | “And I do think it's a mistake because I don't think I agree with resignation honours. |
| “I think Labour should be very clear that this is a discretionary power that should be removed from outgoing prime ministers. | “I think Labour should be very clear that this is a discretionary power that should be removed from outgoing prime ministers. |
| “I don't want laws to be made in the chamber of David Cameron’s friends, I want it to be made in the chamber of people who have served their country with unprecedented distinction.” | “I don't want laws to be made in the chamber of David Cameron’s friends, I want it to be made in the chamber of people who have served their country with unprecedented distinction.” |
| Ms Chakrabarti is the former director of Liberty, a civil rights organisation, and was awarded a CBE in 2007. But after being appointed to lead an inquiry into claims of anti-Semitism within Labour, she faced questions over her independence after she revealed she had joined the Labour Party. | Ms Chakrabarti is the former director of Liberty, a civil rights organisation, and was awarded a CBE in 2007. But after being appointed to lead an inquiry into claims of anti-Semitism within Labour, she faced questions over her independence after she revealed she had joined the Labour Party. |
| The decision to nominate Ms Chakrabarti to the House of Lords has sparked outrage among Jewish leaders, with Britain’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirivis saying the credibility of her report now “lies in tatters”. | The decision to nominate Ms Chakrabarti to the House of Lords has sparked outrage among Jewish leaders, with Britain’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirivis saying the credibility of her report now “lies in tatters”. |
| He said: “Shami Chakrabarti has a proud record of public service, but in accepting this peerage, the credibility of her report lies in tatters and the Labour Party's stated intention, to unequivocally tackle anti-Semitism, remains woefully unrealised.” | He said: “Shami Chakrabarti has a proud record of public service, but in accepting this peerage, the credibility of her report lies in tatters and the Labour Party's stated intention, to unequivocally tackle anti-Semitism, remains woefully unrealised.” |
| Ms Chakrabarti has said she will accept the nomination. | Ms Chakrabarti has said she will accept the nomination. |
| “I am honoured to accept Jeremy Corbyn’s challenge and opportunity to help hold the Government to account,” she said. | “I am honoured to accept Jeremy Corbyn’s challenge and opportunity to help hold the Government to account,” she said. |
| “This is a dangerous moment for our country and we share vital human rights values that need defending more than ever before in my lifetime.” | “This is a dangerous moment for our country and we share vital human rights values that need defending more than ever before in my lifetime.” |