Work Responsible for Illegal Acts of Discrimination and Harassment, According to EHRC’s Anti-Semitism Report – The Politics Live | Politics

The equality watchdog found evidence of political interference in the complaints process, with 23 cases of inappropriate participation by the Office of the Leader of the Opposition (LOTO) and others in the 70 files examined.

He said this included LOTO staff influencing decisions on complaints, especially decisions on suspensions or to investigate a claim. Some decisions were made because of the likely interest of the press rather than formal judgment.

In what appears to be a particularly serious finding, the EHRC said:

The Labor Party adopted a practice of political interference in certain complaints and evidence indicates that it occurred more regularly in cases of anti-Semitism.

The EHRC has determined that this is indirectly discriminatory and illegal, adding that the practice puts the person filing an anti-Semitism complaint at a disadvantage as they could face different and damaging treatment and the risk that their complaint will not is handled fairly.

A transparent and independent antisemitism complaints process, in which all cases of alleged discrimination, harassment or victimization are investigated quickly, rigorously and without interference, is an essential part of the reforms necessary to rebuild trust.

Caroline Waters, Acting Chairperson of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said the agency’s investigation had highlighted “multiple areas” where Labor’s approach and leadership to address anti-Semitism was insufficient.

“This is inexcusable and appears to be the result of an unwillingness to address anti-Semitism rather than an inability to do so,” he added.

“It is encouraging to see that the new Party leadership is committed to fully implementing our recommendations. If the Party really wants to rebuild trust with its members and the Jewish community, it must recognize the impact that numerous investigations and years of failure to address anti-Semitism have had on the Jewish people, and take swift and sincere steps to improve. “

Waters went on to say that “politicians on all sides” have a responsibility to set standards for public life and lead the way in challenging racism in all its forms.

“There have been recent examples of behavior by politicians from various parties falling well below the standards we would expect,” he added.

“While freedom of speech is essential for proper political debate, politicians must recognize the power of their language to sow division. Our recommendations provide a basis for leaders to ensure they comply with the equality law and demonstrate their commitment to diversity and inclusion through their words and actions. “

Labor has tweeted a link where Keir Starmer will reply:

An investigation into the Labor Party by Equalities Watchdog found that it was responsible for illegal acts of harassment and discrimination.

The party is responsible for three violations of the Equality Law (2010) related to:

• Political interference in complaints of anti-Semitism.
• Failure to provide adequate training for those handling complaints of anti-Semitism.
• Bullying

A newly released report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission identified what it described as “serious flaws in the Labor Party leadership in addressing anti-Semitism and an inadequate process for handling complaints of anti-Semitism.”

The EHRC said its analysis “points to a culture within the Party that, at best, did not do enough to prevent anti-Semitism and, at worst, could be seen as accepting it.”

This is in direct contrast to the existing comprehensive guidance and training to handle allegations of sexual harassment which demonstrates the Party’s ability to act decisively when necessary, indicating that anti-Semitism could have been more effectively addressed.

A key finding of the report, whether the Labor Party has violated equality laws will depend on the experience of Jewish members within the party.

The EHRC has sought evidence on the experience of Jewish members in the party.

It’s worth noting that Labor has already settled in court with whistleblowers who spoke to the BBC about anti-Semitism, who say they were later defamed by statements by party spokesmen.

That move has already threatened to plunge the party back into civil war, with Jeremy Corbyn publicly condemning Keir Starmer’s decision to settle the case.

The party apologized “unreservedly” and paid a six-figure sum to seven former employees and a veteran BBC journalist, admitting that it defamed them in the wake of a Panorama investigation into their handling of anti-Semitism.

The settlement and formal apologies to the reporter, John Ware and the former employees, which have been read in public hearing, are believed to have cost the Labor Party around £ 600,000, with around £ 180,000 in damages agreed by eight. people. .

Corbyn later said he was disappointed in the settlement Starmer brokered, calling it a “political decision” against legal advice, and said the decision “runs the risk of lending credence to misleading and inaccurate allegations about measures taken to combat anti-Semitism. in the Labor Party in recent years.

Former Foreign Secretary and former Labor leadership hopeful David Miliband has said Jeremy Corbyn’s approach to the situation in the Labor Party was “appalling” and described the period as “a terrible, dark and shameful period.”

He told Times Radio: “I’m not going to say that I know what is in Jeremy Corbyn’s heart.

“What I am clear about is that he failed to address this issue in a horrible way in all its aspects. Be they cartoons or statements, they reflect a total blindness to the subject and the importance of it.

“It is a terrible, dark and shameful period and not being clear, not being decisive, not saying that anyone who is anti-Semitic is not welcome in the Labor Party, not clarifying that is a source of shame for me as someone who He is still a member of the Labor Party. “

Other people anticipating the report include Owen Jones, a Guardian columnist and Labor activist, who tweets:

Nick Lowles of the anti-racist organization Hope not Hate, meanwhile tweeted a link to an article he wrote last year on labor and anti-Semitism, in which he said:

Labor’s judgment day on anti-Semitism is fast approaching, with the EHRC report released early next year. We will leave it up to them to decide whether the Labor Party is institutionally anti-Semitic, but the mere fact that the party is being investigated, and the only other party that has been investigated is the BNP, should be shame enough.

Dame Louise Ellman, the former MP who resigned from the Labor Party over Jeremy Corbyn’s handling of anti-Semitism, said this morning that she wants the old party leadership to be “irrelevant.”

Before the EHRC’s report was released on the party, he told Radio 4’s Today show that Labor “has not yet arrived” under new leader Sir Keir Starmer.

She said: “I would like to see changes so that the people who were responsible at the leadership level for creating this terrible situation become irrelevant.

“That is what I would like to see. A party in which they no longer want to be, in which they feel uncomfortable ”.

Ellman has also written an article for the Times (paywall) in which she claims that she was expelled for “an ugly anti-Semitism that was normalized with the entry of the extreme left after the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader.”