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Labour: Shadow cabinet discussing anti-Semitism criticisms Labour anti-Semitism: Corbyn announces plan to speed up process
(about 1 hour later)
The shadow cabinet is holding a special meeting to discuss how Labour has handled anti-Semitism claims. Jeremy Corbyn has proposed changes to Labour's complaints system to speed up its handling of anti-Semitism allegations.
The party says it has improved its procedures for dealing with allegations, but some believe the leadership has done too little. He told the shadow cabinet he wanted to "confront this poison and drive it out", but some complaints were taking too long to process.
Labour peers, meanwhile, have decided against voting on a no-confidence motion in Jeremy Corbyn over the issue. Labour said it had received 625 complaints against party members in the first six months of 2019 over allegations of anti-Semitism.
Eight members have been expelled.
Meanwhile, Labour peers have decided against voting on a no-confidence motion in Mr Corbyn over the issue.
The developments come as the party launched "education materials" to help members confront anti-Semitism.The developments come as the party launched "education materials" to help members confront anti-Semitism.
Mr Corbyn - who will address his MPs at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday - said only a "small number" of members held anti-Semitic views, but a larger number did not recognise stereotypes and conspiracy theories. Mr Corbyn - who will address his MPs at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party later on Monday - said earlier that while only a "small number" of members held anti-Semitic views, a larger number did not recognise stereotypes and conspiracy theories.
In a letter to members, the Labour leader said the new materials - which include a leaflet and website page - would be the first in a series on "a number of specific forms of racism and bigotry". In a letter to members, the Labour leader said the new education materials - which include a leaflet and website page - would be the first in a series on "a number of specific forms of racism and bigotry".
Mr Corbyn said the scale of the problem within Labour had been exaggerated by "some of the media", but the party was "not immune" from the problem of anti-Jewish hatred.Mr Corbyn said the scale of the problem within Labour had been exaggerated by "some of the media", but the party was "not immune" from the problem of anti-Jewish hatred.
"The worst cases of anti-Semitism in our party have included Holocaust denial, crude Jewish-banker stereotypes, conspiracy theories blaming Israel for 9/11 or every war on the Rothschild family", he said."The worst cases of anti-Semitism in our party have included Holocaust denial, crude Jewish-banker stereotypes, conspiracy theories blaming Israel for 9/11 or every war on the Rothschild family", he said.
"So please engage with the materials we are producing [...] so our movement can be the strongest anti-racist force in our country.""So please engage with the materials we are producing [...] so our movement can be the strongest anti-racist force in our country."
But Lord Desai - a member of the party for 48 years - said it was "too late now [for] the leadership to start pontificating about what a terrible thing anti-Semitism is".But Lord Desai - a member of the party for 48 years - said it was "too late now [for] the leadership to start pontificating about what a terrible thing anti-Semitism is".
He told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme he had "no confidence in the leadership", and was "very unhappy with the way the Labour Party is going".He told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme he had "no confidence in the leadership", and was "very unhappy with the way the Labour Party is going".
His colleague on the Labour benches, Lord Adonis, also criticised the statement from Mr Corbyn, telling the programme: "[It is] is quite unsatisfactory because what he says is those people who have been criticising the handling of anti-Semitism have been exaggerating.His colleague on the Labour benches, Lord Adonis, also criticised the statement from Mr Corbyn, telling the programme: "[It is] is quite unsatisfactory because what he says is those people who have been criticising the handling of anti-Semitism have been exaggerating.
"What our policy should be as a party is zero tolerance of anti-Semitism. This is back to the 1930s. This is the stuff that led to the undermining of European civilised values. There is no place for it at all.""What our policy should be as a party is zero tolerance of anti-Semitism. This is back to the 1930s. This is the stuff that led to the undermining of European civilised values. There is no place for it at all."
He added: "It has not been exaggerated."He added: "It has not been exaggerated."
Will more contrition win over Corbyn's critics?Will more contrition win over Corbyn's critics?
Some of Mr Corbyn's critics had hoped today might prove a watershed moment. A day when Mr Corbyn - under pressure - might finally accept the need for much more decisive action to restore relations with the Jewish community.Some of Mr Corbyn's critics had hoped today might prove a watershed moment. A day when Mr Corbyn - under pressure - might finally accept the need for much more decisive action to restore relations with the Jewish community.
Most, however, are now profoundly pessimistic about the prospect of serious change.Most, however, are now profoundly pessimistic about the prospect of serious change.
Much of their anger is focussed at the bulk of the shadow cabinet who have refused to speak out. But there is also anger that many MPs - fearful of a backlash from Mr Corbyn's supporters in their constituency parties and the threat of de-selection - have also remained silent.Much of their anger is focussed at the bulk of the shadow cabinet who have refused to speak out. But there is also anger that many MPs - fearful of a backlash from Mr Corbyn's supporters in their constituency parties and the threat of de-selection - have also remained silent.
Instead, what they now expect is Mr Corbyn to express more contrition and offer more advice to members on how to address anti-Semitism. There may also be some tweaks to party rules to give the NEC a bigger role in expulsions, and to speed them up.Instead, what they now expect is Mr Corbyn to express more contrition and offer more advice to members on how to address anti-Semitism. There may also be some tweaks to party rules to give the NEC a bigger role in expulsions, and to speed them up.
But these moves are dismissed by Mr Corbyn's opponents as "more process".But these moves are dismissed by Mr Corbyn's opponents as "more process".
The Labour leader may just be glad to get to the recess in the hope the acrimony and ill feeling over anti-Semitism begins to subside.The Labour leader may just be glad to get to the recess in the hope the acrimony and ill feeling over anti-Semitism begins to subside.
Somehow, that seems unlikely.Somehow, that seems unlikely.
Nine MPs and three peers have left Labour over its handling of anti-Semitism allegations among members.Nine MPs and three peers have left Labour over its handling of anti-Semitism allegations among members.
Three MPs - John Mann, Ruth Smeeth and Wes Streeting - have written to the shadow cabinet arguing that some members "continue to labour under the delusion that complaints about our handling of anti-Semitism cases... are motivated by those with an axe to grind".Three MPs - John Mann, Ruth Smeeth and Wes Streeting - have written to the shadow cabinet arguing that some members "continue to labour under the delusion that complaints about our handling of anti-Semitism cases... are motivated by those with an axe to grind".
They say "too many members of the shadow cabinet have been silent bystanders to, or - worse still - actively complicit in" that narrative.They say "too many members of the shadow cabinet have been silent bystanders to, or - worse still - actively complicit in" that narrative.
The MPs also accuse those around the leader of having "a bunker mentality" - echoing comments made by Baroness Hayter last week.The MPs also accuse those around the leader of having "a bunker mentality" - echoing comments made by Baroness Hayter last week.
Baroness Hayter was fired from her role as shadow Brexit minister when she compared the leadership' team's refusal to acknowledge criticism to "the last days of Hitler".Baroness Hayter was fired from her role as shadow Brexit minister when she compared the leadership' team's refusal to acknowledge criticism to "the last days of Hitler".
Following her sacking, fellow Labour members of the House of Lords decided against voting on a no-confidence motion in Mr Corbyn, but gave their full backing to Baroness Hayter.Following her sacking, fellow Labour members of the House of Lords decided against voting on a no-confidence motion in Mr Corbyn, but gave their full backing to Baroness Hayter.
BBC political correspondent Nick Eardley says critics of the Labour leader may push for a no-confidence vote in September "if the situation deteriorates".BBC political correspondent Nick Eardley says critics of the Labour leader may push for a no-confidence vote in September "if the situation deteriorates".
'Improvements made''Improvements made'
Earlier this month, the BBC's Panorama revealed claims from a number of former party officials that some of Mr Corbyn's closest allies tried to interfere in disciplinary processes involving allegations of anti-Semitism.Earlier this month, the BBC's Panorama revealed claims from a number of former party officials that some of Mr Corbyn's closest allies tried to interfere in disciplinary processes involving allegations of anti-Semitism.
As well as calls for an investigation into the claims made in the BBC programme, the Labour leadership is also under pressure to adopt an external complaints process, and automatically exclude members where there is "irrefutable evidence" of racism.As well as calls for an investigation into the claims made in the BBC programme, the Labour leadership is also under pressure to adopt an external complaints process, and automatically exclude members where there is "irrefutable evidence" of racism.
Ahead of the shadow cabinet meeting on Monday, the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) wrote to members urging them to show "real leadership" on the issue.Ahead of the shadow cabinet meeting on Monday, the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) wrote to members urging them to show "real leadership" on the issue.
"JLM, our supporters and the wider Jewish community despair at the lack of resolve, the repetition of worn words with no effort or intention to act.""JLM, our supporters and the wider Jewish community despair at the lack of resolve, the repetition of worn words with no effort or intention to act."
Labour has rejected claims of interference in its disciplinary processes and described the Panorama programme as "seriously inaccurate" and "politically one-sided".Labour has rejected claims of interference in its disciplinary processes and described the Panorama programme as "seriously inaccurate" and "politically one-sided".
In a statement, it said: "Since Jennie Formby became general secretary the rate at which anti-Semitism cases have been dealt with has increased more than four-fold.In a statement, it said: "Since Jennie Formby became general secretary the rate at which anti-Semitism cases have been dealt with has increased more than four-fold.
"We will build on the improvements to our procedures made under Jennie Formby, and continue to act against this repugnant form of racism.""We will build on the improvements to our procedures made under Jennie Formby, and continue to act against this repugnant form of racism."