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| Antisemitism: Labour criticised for failing to consult Jewish members | Antisemitism: Labour criticised for failing to consult Jewish members |
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| Labour has been criticised for failing to consult Jewish members over its new disciplinary procedures for expelling members, and allowing the revised rules to be debated at conference on the Jewish Sabbath. | Labour has been criticised for failing to consult Jewish members over its new disciplinary procedures for expelling members, and allowing the revised rules to be debated at conference on the Jewish Sabbath. |
| The Jewish Labour Movement, which is affiliated to the party, accused Labour of more “institutional failings” after it failed to discuss with it Labour’s proposed changes to the process for dealing with serious misdemeanours including antisemitism and other racism. | |
| Under the new rules, panels of the national executive committee would have the power to expel members, which the party believes will significantly speed up expulsion processes. | Under the new rules, panels of the national executive committee would have the power to expel members, which the party believes will significantly speed up expulsion processes. |
| 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 |
| This would apply in serious cases, where there is clear documentary evidence such as social media posts or videos. | This would apply in serious cases, where there is clear documentary evidence such as social media posts or videos. |
| Currently, the national constitutional committee (NCC) is the only body with the power to expel in disciplinary cases, having been created following a high court injunction against expulsions by the NEC in the 1980s. | Currently, the national constitutional committee (NCC) is the only body with the power to expel in disciplinary cases, having been created following a high court injunction against expulsions by the NEC in the 1980s. |
| The court ruled that the NEC could not both investigate complaints and make a final ruling on complaints. However, as investigations are now carried out by party staff, the power to expel can be restored to the NEC. | The court ruled that the NEC could not both investigate complaints and make a final ruling on complaints. However, as investigations are now carried out by party staff, the power to expel can be restored to the NEC. |
| A Labour party spokesperson said: “Following Jeremy Corbyn’s proposals to fast-track expulsions in serious cases, the NEC has agreed detailed rule changes, which will be put to a vote at conference. | A Labour party spokesperson said: “Following Jeremy Corbyn’s proposals to fast-track expulsions in serious cases, the NEC has agreed detailed rule changes, which will be put to a vote at conference. |
| “The vast majority of Labour members are motivated by equality, justice and fairness. The party has taken decisive and robust disciplinary action following complaints about a small minority of party members. Jeremy Corbyn’s reforms, supported by the NEC, would further speed up these processes.” | “The vast majority of Labour members are motivated by equality, justice and fairness. The party has taken decisive and robust disciplinary action following complaints about a small minority of party members. Jeremy Corbyn’s reforms, supported by the NEC, would further speed up these processes.” |
| However, the Jewish Labour Movement released a statement saying the proposed reforms were insufficient and criticised the plan to debate them on the Sabbath, which would stop Orthodox members taking part. | |
| “Time and again, the party leadership and the NEC have demonstrated a complete failure in both judgment and commitment to tackle antisemitism. With a statutory investigation by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission well under way, this is the latest example of institutional failing. | “Time and again, the party leadership and the NEC have demonstrated a complete failure in both judgment and commitment to tackle antisemitism. With a statutory investigation by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission well under way, this is the latest example of institutional failing. |
| “We have learned tonight from press reports that the party wishes to make sweeping changes to the disciplinary rules on antisemitism, without consulting us, its only Jewish affiliate, or any communal organisation. To add insult to injury, they will debate these changes at conference on the Jewish Sabbath, when religiously observant Jewish Labour delegates will be silenced, unable to participate in the debate. | |
| “The Jewish community has zero confidence that proposals to hand the NEC more powers on disciplinary matters will solve this crisis. There have been countless examples of NEC members either engaging in antisemitism or turning a blind eye to it. It will simply streamline the process of letting antisemites off the hook.” | “The Jewish community has zero confidence that proposals to hand the NEC more powers on disciplinary matters will solve this crisis. There have been countless examples of NEC members either engaging in antisemitism or turning a blind eye to it. It will simply streamline the process of letting antisemites off the hook.” |
| The row is just one of several controversial decisions to come out of Tuesday’s marathon NEC meeting. | The row is just one of several controversial decisions to come out of Tuesday’s marathon NEC meeting. |
| The body also decided to move to in effect abolish Labour Students, the party’s student wing, which is seen as being on the more centrist side of the party, provoking frustration from Labour MPs who said they relied on its volunteers in election campaigns. | |
| The motion was brought by Jon Lansman, the founder of Momentum and an ally of Corbyn. Labour Students is challenging the decision, saying it has paid its fees. | The motion was brought by Jon Lansman, the founder of Momentum and an ally of Corbyn. Labour Students is challenging the decision, saying it has paid its fees. |
| There is also a controversy over processes to select candidates as MPs. Some in Welsh Labour are unhappy that the NEC decided not to devolve the process for reselections, which will mean the central party retains control. | There is also a controversy over processes to select candidates as MPs. Some in Welsh Labour are unhappy that the NEC decided not to devolve the process for reselections, which will mean the central party retains control. |
| A decision was also taken for the party to change the process for selections in key seats, which have been paused while the party concentrated on reselections and trigger ballots for sitting MPs. | A decision was also taken for the party to change the process for selections in key seats, which have been paused while the party concentrated on reselections and trigger ballots for sitting MPs. |
| Some MPs believe there is a move under way to give the central party more control over selections and allow the leadership or trade unions to parachute favoured candidates into key marginal and safe seats vacated by retiring MPs rather than letting local members decide. Firm proposals have not yet been worked up by officials but they will be presented to a future NEC meeting possibly as soon as Friday. | Some MPs believe there is a move under way to give the central party more control over selections and allow the leadership or trade unions to parachute favoured candidates into key marginal and safe seats vacated by retiring MPs rather than letting local members decide. Firm proposals have not yet been worked up by officials but they will be presented to a future NEC meeting possibly as soon as Friday. |
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