Watson hits out over Labour ‘smears’
THE civil war raging within Labour escalated last night when Tom Watson accused the party’s top officials of “smearing” former staff who spoke out against anti-Semitism.
Labour’s deputy leader said he had found it “truly shocking and distressing” to hear the ex-employees tell a Panorama documentary about their experiences of dealing with antiJewish racism by party members.
The programme claimed that Jeremy Corbyn’s closest aides had interfered in anti-Semitism cases, accusations fiercely denied by Labour.
Party officials also said the allegations were being made by “disaffected” former staff members with a political axe to grind. But in a letter to Jennie Formby, Labour’s general secretary, Mr Watson said: “These young people, particularly the ex-staff who broke NDAs [non-disclosure agreements] to speak out, have been very brave to go before a camera.
“The way they have been smeared, including by Labour spokespeople, is deplorable. Even if some in the party did not want to hear what they had to say, it is unacceptable to attempt to undermine their integrity and characters in this manner.”
The Panorama documentary also revealed an email on a disciplinary case from Ms Formby to senior Labour figures, including Mr Corbyn, in which she said: “I’ve permanently deleted all trace of the email. Too many eyes all on my Labour address. Please use my Unite address.”
But Mr Watson produced an email Ms Formby sent him this year in which she said: “I am extremely concerned by the wording in your email which appears to suggest you believe I would consider destroying evidence.”
The fallout continued yesterday as Labour’s Jewish affiliate said 30 whistleblowers have come forward to detail their experiences of the party’s handling of anti-Semitism allegations.