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Labour set to apologise to antisemitism whistleblowers Labour set to apologise to antisemitism whistleblowers
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Exclusive: party attempts to draw line under allegations made during Jeremy Corbyn eraExclusive: party attempts to draw line under allegations made during Jeremy Corbyn era
Labour is poised to make a formal apology to antisemitism whistleblowers as part of a settlement designed to draw a line under allegations made under the Jeremy Corbyn era, the Guardian has learned. Labour is poised to make a formal apology to antisemitism whistleblowers as part of a settlement designed to draw a line under allegations made during the Jeremy Corbyn era, the Guardian has learned.
The whistleblowers sued the party for defamation in the wake of a BBC Panorama investigation last year. No final settlement has been reached but sources said an agreement was imminent.The whistleblowers sued the party for defamation in the wake of a BBC Panorama investigation last year. No final settlement has been reached but sources said an agreement was imminent.
Seven of the eight whistleblowers, all former Labour staffers, who featured in the documentary, instructed the prominent media lawyer Mark Lewis to take action against the party. Seven of the eight whistleblowers – all former Labour staffers – who featured in the documentary instructed the prominent media lawyer Mark Lewis to take action against the party.
They claimed senior figures had issued statements attacking their reputations and suggesting they had ulterior political and personal motives to undermine the party.They claimed senior figures had issued statements attacking their reputations and suggesting they had ulterior political and personal motives to undermine the party.
Among the former Labour staffers taking action are the former head of disputes Sam Matthews, the former head of compliance Mike Creighton, Dan Hogan, a former disputes team investigator, and disputes officer Louise Withers Green. Among the former Labour staffers taking action are the former head of disputes Sam Matthews; the former head of compliance Mike Creighton; Dan Hogan, a former disputes team investigator; and Louise Withers Green, a former disputes officer. Iain McNicol, the former general secretary who was the eighth interviewee on the programme, is not involved in the action.
Iain McNicol, the party’s former general secretary who was the eighth interviewee on the programme, is not involved in the action. The BBC Panorama programme Is Labour Anti-Semitic?, which was screened in July last year, made a number of serious claims about the party’s internal culture for dealing with complaints of antisemitism.
The BBC Panorama programme, Is Labour Anti-Semitic?, which was screened in July last year, made a number of serious claims about the party’s internal culture for dealing with complaints of antisemitism.
In a statement when the programme was broadcast, a spokesman called them “disaffected former officials” and said they had “worked actively to undermine” Corbyn and had “both personal and political axes to grind”.In a statement when the programme was broadcast, a spokesman called them “disaffected former officials” and said they had “worked actively to undermine” Corbyn and had “both personal and political axes to grind”.
Both the former Labour leader and the Momentum founder, Jon Lansman, also suggested in statements following the programme that it had a pre-determined outcome. Both Corbyn and the Momentum founder, Jon Lansman, also suggested in statements following the programme that it had a pre-determined outcome.
It is understood a formal apology has been requested from the party that would be read in open court. Labour declined to comment. It is understood a formal apology has been requested from the party, to be read in open court. Labour declined to comment.
Labour is expected to settle a separate case with the veteran journalist John Ware, who led the Panorama investigation and who sued over a statement by Labour that the BBC had engaged in “deliberate and malicious representations designed to mislead the public” in its broadcast.
Ofcom rejected 28 complaints against the programme for alleged bias, concluding that the programme was “duly impartial” and included the Labour party’s response prominently throughout.
Labour under Keir Starmer has appeared eager to reach agreements to end ongoing conflicts over the party’s antisemitism crisis.Labour under Keir Starmer has appeared eager to reach agreements to end ongoing conflicts over the party’s antisemitism crisis.
Any apology will prove controversial among Corbyn loyalists, who claim Labour had received legal advice suggesting the party was in a strong position to win the case, and will question whether settling it is a good use of party funds. Any apology will prove controversial among Corbyn loyalists, who claim Labour received legal advice suggesting the party was in a strong position to win the case, and will question whether settling it is a good use of party funds.
Some of the whistleblowers were named in a leaked internal report earlier this year that revealed what it called a “hyper-factional” environment, in which hostility to Corbyn’s leadership hampered the smooth running of complaints procedures. Some of the whistleblowers were named in a leaked internal report this year that revealed what it called a “hyper-factional” environment, in which hostility to Corbyn’s leadership hampered the smooth running of complaints procedures.
The leaking of that report, and its contents, are the subject of an independent review chaired by the QC Martin Ford.The leaking of that report, and its contents, are the subject of an independent review chaired by the QC Martin Ford.
Starmer’s dismissal of his former leadership rival and party frontbencher Rebecca Long-Bailey last month, after she retweeted what a party spokesperson referred to as an “antisemitic consiracy theory”, reignited divisions over the issue. Starmer’s dismissal of his former leadership rival and party frontbencher Rebecca Long-Bailey last month, after she retweeted an article containing what a party spokesperson referred to as an “antisemitic conspiracy theory”, reignited divisions over the issue.
Corbyn was among MPs who demanded a meeting with Starmer the next day to protest against Long-Bailey’s dismissal. Corbyn was among MPs who demanded a meeting with Starmer the next day to protest at Long-Bailey’s dismissal.
News that Labour is preparing to settle with the whistleblowers comes as the party’s MPs are awaiting the findings of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s investigation into allegations of institutional antisemitism. Labour revealed this week it has received a draft of the report. Meanwhile, Labour MPs are awaiting the findings of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) investigation into allegations of institutional antisemitism. The party revealed this week that it had received a draft of the report.
Many of the key individuals involved during the period under investigation, including former general secretary Jenny Formby, Corbyn’s chief of staff Karie Murphy, head of complaints Thomas Gardiner and director of communications Seumas Milne, have since moved on. “Really all the crucial people have left,” said one insider. Many of the key individuals involved during the period under investigation, including the former general secretary Jenny Formby, Corbyn’s chief of staff Karie Murphy, the head of complaints Thomas Gardiner and the director of communications Seumas Milne have since moved on. “Really, all the crucial people have left,” said one insider.
One person with knowledge of the EHRC report’s contents said it was “not a killer blow” for any of the individuals involved, and its findings were carefully couched in “legalese”.One person with knowledge of the EHRC report’s contents said it was “not a killer blow” for any of the individuals involved, and its findings were carefully couched in “legalese”.
Senior Labour insiders expect it to focus on the failings of the party as a whole, rather than indicting individuals for specific decisions.Senior Labour insiders expect it to focus on the failings of the party as a whole, rather than indicting individuals for specific decisions.
The Guardian understands several individuals who had been warned to expect extracts of the report – suggesting they were being personally criticised – have not yet received them. The Guardian understands several individuals who had been warned to expect to receive extracts of the report – suggesting they were being personally criticised – have not yet received them.
Starmer and his deputy, Angela Rayner, have both said publicly they will accept the EHRC’s findings; but Labour’s lawyers are nevertheless scrutinising the draft report in detail.Starmer and his deputy, Angela Rayner, have both said publicly they will accept the EHRC’s findings; but Labour’s lawyers are nevertheless scrutinising the draft report in detail.
In a statement after receiving the report, to which the party has 28 days to respond, a spokesman said the party was committed to fully implementing the commission’s recommendations.In a statement after receiving the report, to which the party has 28 days to respond, a spokesman said the party was committed to fully implementing the commission’s recommendations.
“Antisemitism has been a stain on the Labour party in recent years. It has caused unacceptable and unimaginable levels of grief and distress for many in the Jewish community, as well as members of staff,” the spokesman said.“Antisemitism has been a stain on the Labour party in recent years. It has caused unacceptable and unimaginable levels of grief and distress for many in the Jewish community, as well as members of staff,” the spokesman said.
“Tackling antisemitism within the Labour party is a priority and we are determined to take the further action necessary to begin restoring trust with the Jewish community.“Tackling antisemitism within the Labour party is a priority and we are determined to take the further action necessary to begin restoring trust with the Jewish community.
“We are committed to cooperating fully with the commission’s investigation and implementing its recommendations when the final report is published. We will be making no further comment.”“We are committed to cooperating fully with the commission’s investigation and implementing its recommendations when the final report is published. We will be making no further comment.”
Labour’s handling of antisemitism complaints prompted a number of high-profile departures, including that of the Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Berger, who said the leadership had allowed, “a culture of bullying, bigotry and intimidation” to develop.Labour’s handling of antisemitism complaints prompted a number of high-profile departures, including that of the Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Berger, who said the leadership had allowed, “a culture of bullying, bigotry and intimidation” to develop.
The Labour Together report into December’s catastrophic general election performance cited the perception that Labour was divided – including over antisemitism – as one factor in its defeat. The Labour Together report on December’s catastrophic general election performance cited the perception that Labour was divided – including over antisemitism – as one factor in its defeat.