Damning report Key Labour figures in the Equality and Human Rights Commission inquiry
The report said that he was a responsible for “serious failings” in addressing anti-semitism in the party.
In a damning analysis, it said there was a culture within Labour which “at best, did not do enough to prevent antiSemitism and, at worst, could be seen to accept it”. The committee found that Mr Corbyn’s office unlawfully “politically interfered” with almost two dozen cases of alleged antiSemitism. Jennie Formby, former general secretary The Corbyn ally told the EHRC that Labour’s response to anti-semitism had been “inadequate”. She said the procedures used before 2015 were “over-elaborate” and that staff were distracted from properly managing complaints by “internal political disputes”. Ms Formby said that she sometimes used “personal communication” over work emails to discuss complaints as she did not trust staff at Labour HQ. Karie Murphy, Mr Corbyn’s former chief of staff
The report suggests that Ms Murphy was directly involved in decisions on whether to suspend those under investigation. In an example cited by the report, the Governance and Legal Unit (GLU), responsible for investigations, sought the input of the leader’s office on its proposal to suspend a member. A member of the GLU told the committee that Ms Murphy had told him the “decision is to suspend”. Thomas Gardiner, former director of GLU Former staffers at the complaints unit told the EHRC Mr Gardiner had been “installed” in order for the Labour leadership to “gain political control”.
The former adviser to the Labour Party’s chair was, according to GLU staffers, the leader’s office’s “trusted person”. Witnesses suggested that he acted as the “gatekeeper” on anti-semitism complaints and would liaise with Mr Corbyn’s office to make decisions on complaints. Chris Williamson, former MP for Derby North An investigation into him was influenced by “external events” and public reaction, the report said. He was suspended in February 2019 after claiming the party had “been too apologetic” in its response to its handling of allegations. He was reinstated in June but suspended shortly after news of his reinstatement “was leaked”.