Lord Falconer says ‘urgent investigation’ into Labour Party antisemitism is required
LORD FALCONER has called for an “urgent investigation” into reports two of Jeremy Corbyn’s closest advisers interfered in disciplinary cases involving antisemitism in his party.
On BBC Radio Four’s The World At One on Monday, the former Lord Chancellor was asked about newspaper reports that Seamus Milne, the leader’s director of strategy, and Andrew Murray, the Unite union’s chief of staff, had intervened to lift the suspension of Jewish Voice For Labour activist Glyn Secker.
Lord Falconer, who is in talks to lead a review of how the party handles antisemitism complaints, said: “It sounds to me like an urgent investigation is required.
“I’ve seen the newspaper reports on emails about intervention. I’ve also seen denials suggesting there was no intervention. That simply raises a question about what on earth was going on, and that obviously requires somebody to investigate it.”
The Sunday Times reported that Mr Milne told party officials to reinstate Mr Secker after he was suspended for joining a Facebook group that contained Holocaust denial.
Mr Murray said Mr Corbyn was “interested in this one”.
Lord Falconer warned: “Us being characterised as antisemitic is an existential threat to the Labour Party.
“I think it is such a serious matter, if we don’t deal with it as time goes on we will be eroded as a political force. How can you ask people to vote for a party that was antisemitic? It goes against the essential values of the Labour Party.
“The Jewish people I’ve been speaking Warning: Lord Falconer to have been saying this is an existential threat to us — that the prospective Prime Minister and leader of the opposition and his party makes us feel completely unsafe.”
Lord Falconer, who was Tony Blair’s justice secretary, disputed claims that his membership of the party disqualified him from leading the probe.
He said he had been granted a request for access to party emails and to his “own team of lawyers” but had yet to nail down “additional resources” required.
Responding to claims from Dame Margaret Hodge that he had bullied her last year after she faced disciplinary proceedings for labelling Mr Corbyn an “antisemite”, Lord Falconer said he had been trying to do his best to stop proceedings being brought against the veteran Jewish MP.