Labour racist: Ex-frontbencher

A Labour MP has branded the party ‘‘institutionally racist’’ amid its ongoing row over antiSemitism.

Chuka Umunna, pictured, the former frontbencher, said it was ‘‘beyond doubt’’ Labour met the definition of institutional racism set out in the official report of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry.

But Umunna, a vocal critic of the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said he had no intention of leaving the party and would instead fight to change it.

It came as Ian Lavery, the Labour chairman, suggested that Jewish community groups needed to do more to rebuild trust with the party.

Lavery also dismissed concerns that Labour MPs who are critical of Mr Corbyn’s leadership were being ‘‘targeted’’ for deselection by hard Left activists as he said they were simply being ‘‘challenged’’.

A number of moderate Labour MPs have lost votes of no confidence in their constituencies in recent weeks, sparking fears of a purge.

But Lavery said it was the job of MPs to ‘‘try and understand the views’’ of their constituents and to ‘‘not be frightened to speak’’.

He also confirmed a plan to introduce mandatory reselection of MPs will be discussed at Labour’s annual conference later this month.

His comments are unlikely to assuage the concerns of the likes of Umunna, who believe they are being forced out of the party.

Asked on Sky News yesterday if he believed Labour was ‘‘institutionally racist’’, Umunna replied: ‘‘Yes, I do. If you look at the definition of institutional racism as outlined by Sir William Macpherson in the Macpherson Report, and the Macpherson Inquiry produced an institutional racism definition. It’s beyond doubt for me that it has met it. It is very painful for me to say that.’’

Umunna said he wanted to stay in Labour ‘‘because I want it to change’’, but ultimately he did not rule out quitting the party in the future.

He said: ‘‘I don’t want to leave the Labour Party. Who knows what I will be doing when I am 80?’’

The Macpherson Report, published in 1999, defined institutional racism as: ‘‘The collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture, or ethnic origin.

‘‘It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people.’’ – Telegraph Group