[ad_1]
Senior Labor figures are prepared for the equality watchdog to rule that the party acted illegally in its treatment of Jewish members, as a shadow cabinet minister said the anti-Semitism crisis was the most shameful in the Labor history.
The report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (ECHR) will recommend an independent complaints system when the results of its long-awaited investigation are released on Thursday.
The conclusion of the investigation will close a painful chapter in Labor history under Jeremy Corbyn, when he was accused of institutional anti-Semitism and MPs resigned amid recriminations about toxic factionalism within the party’s headquarters.
Corbyn is expected to make a statement after the report is released, as is his successor as leader, Keir Starmer.
The EHRC is not expected to make direct recommendations that disciplinary action should be taken against high-profile individuals like Corbyn. But sources close to the investigation said that a previous draft report found evidence of indirect discrimination in the operation of party processes, which would be a violation of the equality law.
However, it is understood that there have been multiple challenges to the draft report and the final conclusions of the ECHR have been kept secret.
Starmer is likely to accept all of the report’s recommendations, although Corbyn’s Jewish supporters plan a legal challenge to the EHRC’s findings if they disagree with its conclusions.
Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said Wednesday that the crisis of anti-Semitism had been “a shameful period in our history, and we have to be clear that we will never go back to that, and we will do everything we can to repair relations with the Jewish community which, understandably and rightly so, is hurt by the failure of the Labor Party to deal with this in recent years.
The EHRC launched the review in 2019 after whistleblowers alleged the party was institutionally anti-Semitic in handling complaints and within local party structures. The reference came from various Jewish groups, including the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism and the Jewish Labor Movement.
The final report, which is over 100 pages long, has been carefully guarded by the EHRC. It is one of the agency’s most politically charged investigations to date. A draft report is known to have been shared with the Labor Party in July, as well as a small number of key figures in the Corbyn administration.
Investigators have examined incidents involving former Labor Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and former MP Chris Williamson, who were suspended by the party on charges of anti-Semitism. The report will also look at alleged interference in the disciplinary process by members of Corbyn’s team and how the complaint procedure worked.
A source described the language in the draft report as “strong” and said that Starmer would be under pressure to establish whether the party would take disciplinary action against people involved in the previous administration, such as Corbyn, his former chief of staff Karie Murphy, or former Secretary General Jennie Formby.
Gideon Falter, executive director of the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, said there must be consequences for Labor staff if the report is too critical. “The party must change forever after this episode so this never happens again,” he said.
“Those responsible remain in the party and must be held accountable if Sir Keir Starmer wants to uproot anti-Semitism ‘by the roots’, as he promised. The EHRC report is a crucial moment in this remedial process, which is why we called the EHRC and were the original complainants of their investigation.
“The EHRC has considered a great deal of evidence from us and we will have more to say when the report is released.”
Murphy, who has been accused by several former party employees of meddling in anti-Semitism cases, has said the handling of such disciplinary cases improved during Corbyn’s tenure.
“Under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, anti-Semites were removed from the Labor Party more quickly, transparently and effectively than ever. As your former chief of staff, I am proud of that record, ”she said.
