Fury at Labour attack on BBC whistleblowers
MP Emily: Party still has a real problem
LEADING Labour figure Emily Thornberry has stepped into the bitter row over anti-Semitism.
The Shadow Foreign Secretary said Labour was wrong to “go for” former officials who blew the whistle on the party’s handling of complaints.
She told The BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “We shouldn’t be going for the messengers, we should be looking at the message.
“Nobody can pretend there isn’t a problem about anti-Semitism, about our processes for dealing with it.”
Her intervention comes as the two whistleblowers say they plan to sue the party leadership for defamation.
Sam Matthews and Louise Withers Green have instructed media lawyer Mark Lewis. Others who spoke to Panorama are understood to be considering contacting Mr Lewis.
BBC Panorama alleged that senior figures, including leader Jeremy Corbyn’s communications chief Seumas Milne and general secretary Jennie Formby, had interfered in antiSemitism investigations.
Party leader Jeremy Corbyn told the Durham Miners’ Gala on Saturday the documentary had “many inaccuracies”.
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Sam and Louise Thornberry also criticised deputy leader Tom Watson for attacking Ms Formby while she has treatment for cancer: “We know she is very ill. I think it is completely inappropriate to personalise this.”
She spoke after a tirade from Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, who said Mr Watson “and his pals” should “f ****** well be ashamed”.
To cheers at Durham Racecourse, he declared: “Jennie the Durham Miners’ Gala stands with you.”
The Tribune group of MPs last night supported whistleblowers threatened with legal action. Meanwhile, in a YouGov poll 42% of voters said anti-Semitism in Labour is a “serious and genuine issue”.