Labour NE Cap proves plan to deal with 18 key EHRC findings
LABOUR’S RULING national executive committee has approved a draft action plan it was required to submit to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) ahead of a deadline this week.
In a statement on Monday, following a specially convened meeting of the NEC, Labour said the proposals included steps around changing the party’s culture.
They will now be submitted to the NEC ahead of implementation once they are agreed.
The party has agreed to meet regularly afterwards with the EHRC to monitor progress.
A Labour spokesperson said: ”Labour’s national executive committee has given its approval to the draft action plan it is required to submit to the EHRC this week.
“It covers all the EHRC’s recommendations and is an important step towards Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner’s commitment to rebuilding trust and confidence with our Jewish members and the Jewish community.”
Labour’s action plan takes on board the 18 key recommendations of the damning EHRC report — including the setting up of an independent complaints process to handle allegations of antisemitism, other forms of discrimination and bullying.
The party were given a 10 December deadline to produce a draft action plan in response to the findings and recommendations of the report released by the equality body.
Labour’s 39 person NEC was also introduced to Jane Ramsey, an “expert on standards in public and political life”, who will lead on the establishment of the new independent complaints process for internal disciplinary matters.
The action plan contains details on how Labour intends to live up to Sir
The party was given a deadline of 10 December to submit a plan’
Keir Starmer’s zero tolerance commitment to reports of antisemitism in the party in the future, how it will introduce training sessions on antiJewish racism to be conducted by the Jewish Labour Movement, and how it will effectively monitor improvements to ensure lasting change within the party.
Attempts by left-wing members of the NEC meeting to bring up the issue of Jeremy Corbyn’s suspension or the suspensions of local party officials who have sought to discuss the issue with motions at local meetings were refused. Monday afternoon’s meeting was called solely to outline the EHRC action plain – and any other business was ruled out of order.
Labour’s new senior adviser on standards and ethics Ms Ramsey resigned from the committee on standards in public life, which advises the Prime Minister on ethical standards across the whole of public life in the UK, to take up her new role.
On October 29 Labour was served with an unlawful act notice and given six week to return to the EHRC with its action plan.
The EHRC must agree with the plan and will monitor its administration. Labour is legally mandated to commission an independent process to handle and determine antisemitism complaints as soon as rule changes allow.