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The results of a “nightmare” investigation into the Labor Party’s infighting will be released in a few weeks, in an event that will further erode Sir Keir Starmer’s attempts to unify the party.
Insiders worry that Starmer created a “major flash point” by launching an independent investigation to examine the commission, publication and content of a highly controversial party report leaked last year. The report, drawn up at the end of Jeremy Corbyn’s time as leader, alleges that internal hostility towards his leadership hampered efforts to tackle anti-Semitism and damaged the 2017 election campaign.
Now concerns have been raised about the scale and unpredictability of the independent investigation, which insiders fear has taken on a “life of its own.” It is understood that you have received hundreds of submissions. Party figures said the investigation was going “everywhere and everywhere.”
Another said: “We have created a real millstone here. This could be resolved, frankly, in a few weeks, but the investigation seems to be looking at everything. It has become a nightmare. “
The leak of the 860-page document caused anger in the party when it came to light in the spring. The report stated that there was “abundant evidence of a hyper-factional atmosphere prevailing at the party headquarters … which appears to have affected the prompt and determined handling of disciplinary complaints.” He makes a series of complaints about the alleged channeling of money to certain parliamentarians and that others were deprived of it. It also includes disparaging comments made by staff about Corbyn’s allies.
John McDonnell, a former shadow Chancellor of the Labor Party, said the report was commissioned by former Secretary-General Jennie Formby and produced by the party’s governing and legal unit. He was scheduled to come under the Equality and Human Rights Commission investigation into anti-Semitism in the party, but that was blocked by Labor lawyers.
The party’s left claimed the report showed a toxic culture at Labor headquarters, damaging the 2017 election effort. Meanwhile, some of those named are taking legal action, claiming that privacy has been violated or that their comments have been misrepresented. .
Investigating the report is being conducted by Martin Forde QC, a respected lawyer who advised the Windrush government’s compensation scheme on racial inequality in the UK. It is scheduled to be published before the end of the year. It was originally meant to emerge in the summer.
It is presented as the latest Opinium survey for the Observer suggests that the renewed dispute over Corbyn’s suspension and the anti-Semitism issue may have affected the party’s support. Labor follows the Conservatives by three points overall. Starmer’s approval ratings have also taken a hit. His net approval has fallen from 17 points to 11 points in the last fifteen days.
Labor is already experiencing renewed internal unrest after Starmer’s decision not to reinstate Corbyn as a Labor MP. The former leader has been informed that he will be suspended from the parliamentary Labor Party for at least three months.
Corbyn was suspended as a party member for suggesting that accusations of anti-Semitism in the Labor Party had been “dramatically exaggerated for political reasons” by opponents and the media. He has since clarified that he does not believe the concerns about anti-Semitism are overstated or exaggerated. His clarification led to his reinstatement as a member of the Labor Party, but Starmer has refused to allow him to return to the parliamentary party.
Starmer faces resignations if he allows Corbyn to return as a Labor MP, and several front-line judges are said to be against it. However, the party’s left also warns of a mass exodus of members should it refuse to reinstate it.
The investigation into the leaked report could further fuel the internal war.
