Corbyn rages at whistleblower payouts
JEREMY Corbyn sparked outrage yesterday by saying he was “disappointed” by Labour’s decision to pay substantial damages to seven former employees who sued the party in an anti-Semitism row.
Taking aim at new Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, he said it was a “political decision, not a legal one” and that the party had a “strong defence” against the whistleblowers.
Labour issued an unreserved apology in the High Court for making “false and defamatory” comments about the seven after they spoke out in a BBC Panorama programme last July. The individuals had criticised the then leadership’s handling of complaints.
The seven then sued the party over “defamatory and false allegations”. It is understood Labour parted with £500,000 in compensation and legal fees.
In a sign that the move could reignite factional infighting with the party’s hard-Left, Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, a close ally of Mr Corbyn, said the settlement was a “misuse” of party funds to settle a case “it was advised we would win”.
Labour’s decision to settle is part of a bid to draw a line under allegations made during Mr Corbyn’s leadership.
Labour’s handling of antiSemitism allegations under Mr Corbyn is the subject of an inquiry by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Yesterday’s decision was welcomed by MPs and Jewish Labour activists who have long campaigned against anti-Semitism within the party.