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Jeremy Corbyn ramps up plans to expel antisemites from party Jeremy Corbyn ramps up plans to expel antisemites from party
(about 2 hours later)
Jeremy Corbyn has set out new plans to ramp up the expulsion of antisemites from the Labour party to an emergency shadow cabinet meeting, though the proposal does not include independent oversight as demanded by senior MPs. Jeremy Corbyn has set out new plans to ramp up the expulsion of antisemites from the Labour party at an emergency shadow cabinet meeting, though MPs later angrily questioned why the proposal did not have detail on independent oversight as demanded by senior MPs.
Labour launches webpage in effort to drive out antisemitismLabour launches webpage in effort to drive out antisemitism
The proposal, which has been backed by the shadow cabinet, came before a potentially restive meeting of MPs on Monday night, at which several were expected to confront the Labour leader on the issue. The proposals, which were backed by the shadow cabinet, came before a restive meeting of MPs on Monday night, where MPs including Yvette Cooper and Peter Kyle called on the Labour leader to reflect on why antisemites might be attracted to join the party.
Earlier, Labour peers decided to halt a proposed no-confidence vote in the Labour leader, but sources in the Lords said they could resurrect the plan in September. Corbyn told the shadow cabinet before a crunch meeting of the party’s ruling body on Tuesday that a new rule would refer members who had clearly committed the most egregious offences to a new panel of officials, including the general secretary, with the power to immediately expel them.
Corbyn told the shadow cabinet before a crunch meeting of the party’s ruling body on Tuesday that a new rule would refer members who had clearly committed the most egregious offences to a new panel of officials with the power to immediately expel them. Presenting the proposals, Corbyn had the backing of key allies including shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who has at times in recent weeks appeared frustrated at the handling of the issue.
In a joint statement, the shadow cabinet backed Corbyn’s plan but said it also “supports the proposal to introduce independent oversight of our processes”. Some of Corbyn’s supporters regard antisemitism as a “wedge” issue used to undermine him, and had begun to fear an imminent leadership challenge. But a newfound unity on Brexit, as well as the fresh action on antisemitism, appear to make that unlikely.
The Guardian understands that any independent oversight was not part of Corbyn’s proposal, though a source said it was “under discussion and consideration”. However, the Labour leader faced some rearguard action in the meeting from shadow ministers who wanted to beef-up independent involvement in the complaints process, which was not part of Corbyn’s original proposal.
In a joint statement, the shadow cabinet backed Corbyn’s plan but said it also “supports the proposal to introduce independent oversight of our processes”. Corbyn is likely to suggest that could include independent legal advice – stopping short of outsourcing the process entirely.
At the meeting of Labour MPs on Monday night, Corbyn faced an hour of strained questioning from MPs. “It was one of the most tense it has been,” one MP said. “The trust has just gone. And this happens every week.”
MPs said Cooper had berated the Labour leader for the treatment of whistleblowers who spoke to BBC Panorama’s documentary about the crisis, saying they had been smeared and that treated incited more members to verbally attack MPs locally.
Kyle reeled off a list of antisemitic incidents in his Hove constituency, including a member who had proposed a protest march against the local synagogue. “He asked [Corbyn] to consider what it is about his world view – separate from a political platform – that has attracted these people into our party in the first place,” one MP said.
The Jewish Labour Movement also expressed scepticism of the new plan and said it would be handing power to another factional body. “The national executive committee (NEC) is elected on factional slates on the basis of political patronage. It has an in-built majority for the left which does what the leadership of the party tells it to,” JLM’s chair, Mike Katz, said.
“Nothing short of a fully independent process, first asked for by the Jewish community way back in April 2018, is even going to begin to suggest that the party leadership really cares about tackling institutional anti-Jewish racism.”
Labour launches webpage in effort to drive out antisemitismLabour launches webpage in effort to drive out antisemitism
Labour released new figures on Monday, briefed by the general secretary, Jennie Formby, to the shadow cabinet, revealing it had referred 97 members to the national constitutional committee (NCC), the party’s highest disciplinary body, for possible expulsion since January, with an additional 41 given warnings and 49 given reminders of conduct.Labour released new figures on Monday, briefed by the general secretary, Jennie Formby, to the shadow cabinet, revealing it had referred 97 members to the national constitutional committee (NCC), the party’s highest disciplinary body, for possible expulsion since January, with an additional 41 given warnings and 49 given reminders of conduct.
Speaking in shadow cabinet, Corbyn said that complaints had often taken too long to deal with. “This is not good enough,” he said. “Our members don’t want to share their party with anyone who is racist – and they want to be able to demonstrate there is no place for antisemitism among them. The party said there had been complaints against 625 Labour members, some receiving multiple complaints, but the party had also received complaints about 658 people who were not current members.
However, the figures also suggested that just 28 of those cases had been dealt with by the NCC, resulting in eight expulsions, three suspensions, four warnings and one not guilty finding. Twelve of those referred to the NCC had left the party of their own accord. The equivalent period in 2018 saw just 10 cases heard and seven expulsions – just one fewer than the current year.
Speaking in shadow cabinet, Corbyn said complaints had often taken too long to deal with. “This is not good enough,” he said. “Our members don’t want to share their party with anyone who is racist – and they want to be able to demonstrate there is no place for antisemitism among them.
“Some of the hate and bigotry displayed on social media would count as gross misconduct in any workplace and must be treated similarly robustly in the Labour party.”“Some of the hate and bigotry displayed on social media would count as gross misconduct in any workplace and must be treated similarly robustly in the Labour party.”
The party’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, and the shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, have both called for automatic expulsion for antisemitism in the wake of last week’s BBC Panorama programme when eight whistleblowers gave damning verdicts on the party’s disciplinary process. Several NEC members, including the party’s deputy leader Tom Watson, proposed changes last week to install an independent appointee with the power to automatically expel members for racism, antisemitism, homophobia, sexism or transphobia.
Many Labour MPs have also said they back a more radical shift to an entirely independent complaints process. The change proposed by Corbyn on Monday would not give that independent oversight but would cut out the need to refer members to the NCC where hearings can take months, sometimes years, to take place.
Several national executive committee members, including Watson, proposed changes last week to instal an independent appointee with the power to automatically expel members for racism, antisemitism, homophobia, sexism or transphobia. A Labour source said there were significant obstacles to fully outsourcing the disciplinary process. “No other political party or trade union has outsourced its complaints process,” the source said.
The change proposed by Corbyn on Monday would not give that independent oversight but would cut out the need to refer members to the NCC where hearings can take months, sometimes even years, to take place. “It is unclear how it could logistically work and comply with our responsibilities under data protection legislation..”
A Labour source said there were significant obstacles to giving independent oversight to the disciplinary process. “No other political party or trade union has outsourced its complaints process,” the source said. “It is unclear how it could logistically work and comply with our responsibilities under data protection legislation. It could also threaten the jobs of hardworking staff who have taken swift and robust action on cases.” Corbyn’s preferred plan would mean those offences that met the criteria would instead be referred swiftly to a special panel including the general secretary and NEC officers – its most senior officials. Both Corbyn and Watson are themselves officers on the NEC, but a party source said they would not be on the panel.
Corbyn’s preferred plan would mean those offences that met the criteria would instead be referred swiftly to a special panel including the general secretary and NEC officers. Earlier, Labour peers decided to halt a proposed no-confidence vote in the Labour leader, but sources in the Lords said they could resurrect the plan in September.
Corbyn told the shadow cabinet that defining what constituted “an extreme case of hate and bigotry is of course a sensitive and complex area” and said the NEC would examine that in detail.
Speaking at the meeting, he said the party was “not immune” from racism within its ranks. “It is wrong to deny there is antisemitism in the Labour party. And those who deny that it does exist are part of the problem. We have to stand for a serious, anti-racist, inclusive socialism,” he said.
Corbyn insisted the party had done a lot of work to improve its disciplinary process. The party said there had been complaints against 625 Labour members, some receiving multiple complaints, but the party had also received complaints about 658 people who were not current members.
However, the figures also suggested that just 28 of those cases had been dealt with by the NCC, resulting in eight expulsions, three suspensions, four warnings and one not guilty finding. Twelve of those referred to the NCC had left the party of their own accord. The equivalent period in 2018 saw just 10 cases heard and seven expulsions.
“Publishing this data demonstrates the Labour party’s commitment to transparency in its efforts to root out bigotry and racism, going far beyond any other political party,” a Labour spokesman said.
“We are swiftly suspending individuals and the rate at which antisemitism cases are dealt with has increased more than four-fold since Jennie Formby became general secretary. These figures provide a complete and accurate picture and demonstrate that we are taking decisive and robust action against antisemitism.”
At their meeting on Monday, more than 80 Labour peers agreed not to take a symbolic no-confidence vote in Corbyn, which had been prompted by an advert in the Guardian signed by several dozen Labour peers suggesting Corbyn had made Jews unwelcome in the party.
“We want to give Jeremy Corbyn a message that he must taken action at the NEC tomorrow to include a fully independent complaints process and automatic expulsion where evidence of antisemitism by members is undeniable,” one Lords source said. “If he doesn’t support action on antisemitism, this vote will go ahead in September.”
Jeremy CorbynJeremy Corbyn
LabourLabour
AntisemitismAntisemitism
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