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Labour anti-Semitism: Corbyn's plan to go to ruling body Labour anti-Semitism: Ruling body backs Corbyn expulsions plan
(about 7 hours later)
Jeremy Corbyn will present his plan to speed up the expulsion of members over anti-Semitism to Labour's ruling body, the National Executive Committee. Labour's ruling body has backed a plan endorsed by Jeremy Corbyn to "fast-track" expulsions of members in the most serious anti-Semitism cases.
On Monday, he told his MPs he wanted to "confront this poison", but the process sometimes took too long. It agreed that a new internal panel should be set up to take "rapid action" against the worst offenders.
A statement from the shadow cabinet said they supported the proposals, but still backed "independent oversight" as well. New "legally robust rules" will be presented to party members for approval at Labour's conference in September.
However, Labour MP Ruth Smeeth said the proposals "simply aren't good enough". But some MPs are angry a separate plan for "independent oversight" of the disciplinary process was not adopted.
Meanwhile, Theresa May has appointed Labour MP John Mann as a government adviser on anti-Semitism, the day before she is due to step down as PM. Deputy leader Tom Watson withdrew a motion at Tuesday's meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC), calling for an independent element to the complaints process, after it was clear it did not command enough support.
No 10 said Mr Mann would provide the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) with independent advice on tackling the problem. Labour MP Wes Streeting said the plans approved by the NEC "don't carry the support of the mainstream Jewish community", while colleague Ruth Smeeth said they were "not good enough".
Mr Mann chairs a cross-party parliamentary group on anti-Semitism and has been a frequent critic of Mr Corbyn's handling of the issue. At a meeting of his shadow cabinet on Monday, Mr Corbyn conceded it was taking too long to deal with complaints against members and further action was needed.
The government has also appointed Imam Qari Asim, deputy chair of the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group, to lead a process to establish a definition of Islamophobia. He threw his weight behind a new system in which the most serious cases would be referred to a special panel of the NEC. Its members, including Labour's general secretary Jennie Formby, would then have the power to expel an individual.
Expulsions from Labour In a statement, the NEC said it had backed Mr Corbyn's proposal to "reform our procedures to allow fast-track expulsions in the most serious cases".
Labour said eight party members were expelled in the first six months of 2019 over anti-Semitism allegations. "This proposal will be further developed so that the NEC can finalise the details of a rule change that is fair and legally robust, ahead of conference," it said.
Some 625 complaints were also received in that same period. "Anti-Semitism complaints relate to a small minority of members, but one anti-Semite is one too many."
Speaking to his shadow cabinet, Mr Corbyn said it was "wrong to deny there is anti-Semitism in the Labour Party and those who deny that it does exist are part of the problem". Shadow cabinet
The current process for dealing with anti-Semitism allegations sees a disciplinary panel meet to examine claims. If they think there is a case against a member, they refer it to Labour's National Constitutional Committee, which then has the power to suspend or expel individuals. Critics of the current complaints process have pointed to the length of time cases are taking to resolve and the relatively low number of expulsions.
Critics, including deputy leader Tom Watson, have said the process takes too long and there should be an option to automatically expel people, while some members have also called for the process to be made independent from the party. Eight party members were expelled in the first six months of 2019 over anti-Semitism allegations, while some 625 complaints were received in that same period.
Mr Corbyn's plan and an alternative proposal were presented to the shadow cabinet on Monday, which released a statement afterwards giving its backing.
However, shadow ministers did also say they supported a proposal to introduce independent oversight of the complaints process.
Although this was not put to a vote at the NEC, it is understood Mr Watson was clear in Tuesday's meeting that the only test of success for any rule change was whether it received the support of the Jewish community.
Ms Smeeth said the NEC had chosen the wrong course.
"There is still no independence. In fact, arguably, political power over anti-Semitism cases is going to be consolidated by political supporters of Jeremy Corbyn," she said.
"The only way that people like me, and actually people who are accused of anti-Semitism, will have any faith in the process is if it's not seen to be driven by party political or different factions of the Labour Party."
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.
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".
'Two options' But Mike Katz, the chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, said he did not trust the NEC to act impartially.
The options Mr Corbyn presented to shadow cabinet were:
He told the shadow cabinet he favoured the second option and it would allow for more rapid expulsion in the most serious of cases.
The shadow cabinet released a statement after the meeting, saying they backed his plan, but the issue of independence had not gone away - although there was a lack of clarification on what this would entail.
But Ms Smeeth said: "There is still no independence, in fact arguably political power over anti-Semitism cases is going to be consolidated by political supporters of Jeremy Corbyn.
"The only way that people like me and actually people who are accused of anti-Semitism will have any faith in the process is if it's not seen to be driven by party political or different factions of the Labour party."
Mike Katz, the chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, said he did not trust the National Executive Committee to act impartially.
"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," he 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," he said.
Meanwhile, Theresa May appointed Labour MP John Mann as a government adviser on anti-Semitism, the day before she was due to step down as PM.
No. 10 said Mr Mann would provide the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government with independent advice on tackling the problem.
Mr Mann chairs a cross-party parliamentary group on anti-Semitism in Parliament and has been a frequent critic of Mr Corbyn's handling of the issue.
The government has also appointed Imam Qari Asim, deputy chair of the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group, to lead a process to establish a definition of Islamophobia.
The latest figures on anti-Semitism complaintsThe latest figures on anti-Semitism complaints
Between January and June 2019, Labour received 625 complaints about members relating to anti-Semitism, and a further 658 complaints about people who weren't in the party.Between January and June 2019, Labour received 625 complaints about members relating to anti-Semitism, and a further 658 complaints about people who weren't in the party.
After six NEC meetings in the same period, the committee referred 97 members to the NCC over their cases, handed out 41 official warnings and a further 49 "reminders of conduct".After six NEC meetings in the same period, the committee referred 97 members to the NCC over their cases, handed out 41 official warnings and a further 49 "reminders of conduct".
And over those six months, the NCC expelled eight people, gave out three extended suspensions, and issued four warnings.And over those six months, the NCC expelled eight people, gave out three extended suspensions, and issued four warnings.
Another 12 members left the party after being referred to the NCC, and one member's case was unproven.Another 12 members left the party after being referred to the NCC, and one member's case was unproven.
A Labour spokesman said publishing the figures showed the party's "commitment to transparency in its efforts to root out bigotry and racism".A Labour spokesman said publishing the figures showed the party's "commitment to transparency in its efforts to root out bigotry and racism".
He added: "These figures provide a complete and accurate picture and demonstrate that we are taking decisive and robust action against anti-Semitism."He added: "These figures provide a complete and accurate picture and demonstrate that we are taking decisive and robust action against anti-Semitism."