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| Jennie Formby hits back at Tom Watson in Labour antisemitism row | Jennie Formby hits back at Tom Watson in Labour antisemitism row |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, has been accused of “traducing” the party’s general secretary, Jennie Formby, while she is undergoing treatment for breast cancer as the war of words in the party over antisemitism deepens. | |
| Watson had written to Formby after a BBC Panorama programme on antisemitism in Labour, asking her to publish the party’s submission to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which is investigating Labour over allegations. | |
| Watson also raised claims that she had deleted emails relating to cases, which Formby denies, and complained that the party had “smeared” the staffers who featured in the documentary. | |
| Before the programme aired, a Labour spokesman claimed the participants were “disaffected” and had “axes to grind”. | |
| Replying to Watson on Thursday evening, Formby said she was “very disappointed” he had criticised the party’s response on antisemitism and accused him of abusing his position. | |
| Two major public furores about antisemitism occurred in 2016, with Labour MP Naz Shah apologising for an antisemitic Facebook post, and former London mayor Ken Livingstone making remarks about “the Israel lobby” and Hitler supporting Zionism in broadcast interviews that eventually led to him quitting the party after a lengthy disciplinary process. A report that year by Shami Chakrabarti exonerated the party of widespread antisemitism but reported an 'occasionally toxic atmosphere'. | Two major public furores about antisemitism occurred in 2016, with Labour MP Naz Shah apologising for an antisemitic Facebook post, and former London mayor Ken Livingstone making remarks about “the Israel lobby” and Hitler supporting Zionism in broadcast interviews that eventually led to him quitting the party after a lengthy disciplinary process. A report that year by Shami Chakrabarti exonerated the party of widespread antisemitism but reported an 'occasionally toxic atmosphere'. |
| Matters escalated in 2018 when it became evident that the party was receiving more and more complaints, to the extent that there was a backlog of disciplinary cases. Jeremy Corbyn apologised that April for hurt caused to the Jewish community by problems in the process and pointed to only 0.1% of members being under investigation for alleged antisemitic comments. | Matters escalated in 2018 when it became evident that the party was receiving more and more complaints, to the extent that there was a backlog of disciplinary cases. Jeremy Corbyn apologised that April for hurt caused to the Jewish community by problems in the process and pointed to only 0.1% of members being under investigation for alleged antisemitic comments. |
| But the party was also mired in a row about whether to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which it ended up ultimately approving. Then accusations of political interference in the complaints process by aides close to Corbyn began to emerge earlier this year, which the party strongly denies. | But the party was also mired in a row about whether to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which it ended up ultimately approving. Then accusations of political interference in the complaints process by aides close to Corbyn began to emerge earlier this year, which the party strongly denies. |
| The resignations of some MPs and peers over antisemitism in February 2019 alarmed many Labour colleagues. Then Chris Williamson, a Labour MP and ally of Corbyn, caused an outcry for saying that the party had been 'too apologetic' about antisemitism complaints. However, many of his supporters in the party backed a campaign saying he had been vilified and badly treated. Then came the announcement that the Equalities and Human Rights Commission was placing the party under formal investigation over antisemitism. | The resignations of some MPs and peers over antisemitism in February 2019 alarmed many Labour colleagues. Then Chris Williamson, a Labour MP and ally of Corbyn, caused an outcry for saying that the party had been 'too apologetic' about antisemitism complaints. However, many of his supporters in the party backed a campaign saying he had been vilified and badly treated. Then came the announcement that the Equalities and Human Rights Commission was placing the party under formal investigation over antisemitism. |
| In a July 2019 programme, eight whistleblowers spoke to a BBC Panorama documentary, with some saying they felt there was political meddling from Corbyn’s office in the process for handling antisemitism complaints. Seumas Milne, one of Corbyn’s closest aides, told officials the party was 'muddling up political disputes with racism' and must review processes. Jennie Formby, the general secretary, was accused of attempting to interfere in who sat on a panel examining the case of Jackie Walker, a high-profile activist who was eventually expelled from the party. | In a July 2019 programme, eight whistleblowers spoke to a BBC Panorama documentary, with some saying they felt there was political meddling from Corbyn’s office in the process for handling antisemitism complaints. Seumas Milne, one of Corbyn’s closest aides, told officials the party was 'muddling up political disputes with racism' and must review processes. Jennie Formby, the general secretary, was accused of attempting to interfere in who sat on a panel examining the case of Jackie Walker, a high-profile activist who was eventually expelled from the party. |
| Labour strongly denied the allegations of political interference, and came out on the offensive, accusing the BBC of bias and calling for the documentary to be pulled. A Labour spokesman said the party had fully answered “a number of questions” put to it by the programme, and had also sent 50 pages of documents in response. The complaints to the BBC had been made “at various levels, including the director general”. | Labour strongly denied the allegations of political interference, and came out on the offensive, accusing the BBC of bias and calling for the documentary to be pulled. A Labour spokesman said the party had fully answered “a number of questions” put to it by the programme, and had also sent 50 pages of documents in response. The complaints to the BBC had been made “at various levels, including the director general”. |
| Rowena Mason, Deputy political editor | Rowena Mason, Deputy political editor |
| “The party has at all levels consistently shown that it recognises the vital importance of combating antisemitism, yet you consistently abuse your considerable platform to denigrate any progress that has been made and any individual that is involved in that,” she said. | “The party has at all levels consistently shown that it recognises the vital importance of combating antisemitism, yet you consistently abuse your considerable platform to denigrate any progress that has been made and any individual that is involved in that,” she said. |
| “Traducing my reputation and publicly attacking me when you know I am undergoing chemotherapy and am unable to respond in the media is another example of the inappropriate way in which you choose to discuss this issue.” | “Traducing my reputation and publicly attacking me when you know I am undergoing chemotherapy and am unable to respond in the media is another example of the inappropriate way in which you choose to discuss this issue.” |
| She also defended Labour’s treatment of the individuals featured in the documentary, some of whom said they had suffered mental health problems as a result of the issue. | |
| Formby said she was “very concerned to hear for the first time the distress suggested by some of our former staff members”, adding, “to be clear we were not made aware of them at the time”. | |
| The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, a key ally of the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, threw his weight behind Formby, tweeting it “goes beyond my understanding” that the letter was sent “when he knows she’s undergoing chemotherapy”. | |
| He wrote: “I just don’t understand why the deputy leader of the Labour party uses the media to demand information from Labour’s general secretary @JennieGenSec, which has already been offered to him.” | He wrote: “I just don’t understand why the deputy leader of the Labour party uses the media to demand information from Labour’s general secretary @JennieGenSec, which has already been offered to him.” |
| Claudia Webbe, who sits on Labour’s ruling national executive committee, called for Watson to consider his position – a demand that was retweeted by allies of Corbyn, including the shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott. | |
| @tom_watson your engaged in public attacks on the Labour Party’s General Secretary @JennieGenSec despite your clear knowledge she is receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer. This is not behaviour befitting of the Office of Deputy Leader. You should consider your position? | |
| The fallout from the programme, based on interviews and leaked emails, continues to cause serious ructions in the party. | |
| Corbyn’s team believe Watson is seeking to use the issue as a way of undermining the leadership, just as divisions on Brexit policy had been papered over after the shadow cabinet agreed to support remain in a future referendum. | |
| Watson said a document produced for the EHRC’s investigation should be made public because “only sunlight can disinfect Labour of antisemitism now”, but Formby insisted she had offered to meet him and provide any information he demanded. | |
| Formby took over last year as general secretary of the party, with the support of the leadership, and was tasked with speeding up the response to complaints of antisemitism. | |
| During her treatment Formby’s duties are covered by the party’s executive directors, who include Corbyn’s close aide Seumas Milne and chief of staff Karie Murphy. | |
| Formby attended the shadow cabinet meeting earlier this week at which the new “settled position” on Brexit was agreed. | |
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