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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/mar/09/labour-suspends-former-head-of-ehrc-over-alleged-islamophobia
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Labour suspends former head of EHRC over alleged Islamophobia | Labour suspends former head of EHRC over alleged Islamophobia |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Trevor Phillips investigated over past comments on Pakistani Muslims | Trevor Phillips investigated over past comments on Pakistani Muslims |
| The former head of the UK’s equalities watchdog has been suspended by the Labour party over allegations of Islamophobia. | The former head of the UK’s equalities watchdog has been suspended by the Labour party over allegations of Islamophobia. |
| It is understood that Trevor Phillips, the anti-racism campaigner who previously chaired the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), has been administratively suspended pending an investigation and could be expelled from the party. | It is understood that Trevor Phillips, the anti-racism campaigner who previously chaired the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), has been administratively suspended pending an investigation and could be expelled from the party. |
| According to the Times, the 66-year-old former broadcaster and politician is being investigated over past comments including remarks on Pakistani Muslim men sexually abusing children in northern British towns. | According to the Times, the 66-year-old former broadcaster and politician is being investigated over past comments including remarks on Pakistani Muslim men sexually abusing children in northern British towns. |
| It said the complaint also covered comments by Phillips about the failure of some Muslims to wear poppies for Remembrance Sunday and the sympathy shown by some in an opinion poll towards the motives of the Charlie Hebdo attackers. | It said the complaint also covered comments by Phillips about the failure of some Muslims to wear poppies for Remembrance Sunday and the sympathy shown by some in an opinion poll towards the motives of the Charlie Hebdo attackers. |
| The paper said many of his statements dated back years, but that Labour’s general secretary, Jennie Formby, had suspended him as a matter of urgency to “protect the party’s reputation”. | The paper said many of his statements dated back years, but that Labour’s general secretary, Jennie Formby, had suspended him as a matter of urgency to “protect the party’s reputation”. |
| Phillips, who chaired the EHRC when it launched in 2006, was among 24 public figures who last year wrote to the Guardian declaring their refusal to vote for the Labour party because of its association with antisemitism. | |
| The group said the path to a more tolerant society “must encompass Britain’s Jews with unwavering solidarity” and said Jeremy Corbyn has “a long record of embracing antisemites as comrades”. | The group said the path to a more tolerant society “must encompass Britain’s Jews with unwavering solidarity” and said Jeremy Corbyn has “a long record of embracing antisemites as comrades”. |
| The EHRC is the organisation now investigating the Labour party over alleged antisemitism. | The EHRC is the organisation now investigating the Labour party over alleged antisemitism. |
| Phillips has made two Channel 4 documentaries dealing with race and discrimination - 2015’s Things We Won’t Say About Race That Are True and What British Muslims Really Think, which aired the following year. | |
| He now chairs Index on Censorship, a not-for-profit group that campaigns for and defends free speech. | |
| Phillips told the Times there was no suggestion that he had done anything unlawful and “no one inside or outside the Labour party has ever suggested that I have broken any rules”. | Phillips told the Times there was no suggestion that he had done anything unlawful and “no one inside or outside the Labour party has ever suggested that I have broken any rules”. |
| A Labour party spokesperson said: “The Labour party takes all complaints about Islamophobia extremely seriously and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures, and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken.” | A Labour party spokesperson said: “The Labour party takes all complaints about Islamophobia extremely seriously and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures, and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken.” |