Labour’s day of shame as anti-Semitism probe report is published

LABOUR faces the most shameful day in its 11 -year history today when a ‘damning’ report is published into its failure to deal with anti-Semitism.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission launched an investigation last year into claims that the party under Jeremy Corbyn had victimised Jews and turned a blind eye to hard-Left racism.

It was only the second time such a probe had been opened into a political party. The first was the BNP.

Labour’s health spokesman Jonathan Ashworth said: ‘That was a shameful period in our history and we have to be clear we are never going back to that.’

Asked if the investigation was the most shaming moment in the party’s history, he replied: ‘It probably was, yes.’

The inquiry is expected to recommend that Labour set up an entirely independent complaints process to ensure senior figures cannot interfere in racism cases.

It could also conclude the party had behaved unlawfully and that its flawed complaints procedure breached equalities legislation.

According to the Jewish Labour Movement’s submission to the inquiry, Jewish

‘Shambles at the top’

members faced abuse and Mr Corbyn’s office interfered in anti-Semitism cases. It listed nine cases in which the former leader personally ‘engaged in’ anti-Semitism.

Campaign Against Anti-Semitism chief executive Gideon Falter said: ‘Those responsible remain in the party and must be held to account if Sir Keir Starmer is to tear anti-Semitism “out by its roots”, as he has promised.’

Ex-Labour MP Lord Mann, the UK Government’s anti-Semitism tsar, said: ‘People are optimistic that this report is going to properly identify the shambles at the top of the Labour Party and creates the opportunity for Keir Starmer to permanently erase the worst years in Labour history.’

Labour received a copy of the report in July, but it has remained under wraps so those named have a right to reply.

Fiona Sharpe, of Labour Against Anti-Semitism, said: ‘Our expectations are that it will be damning for Labour.’