Will Panorama exposé trigger ice-pick plot to oust Corbyn?
JEREMY Corbyn faces the prospect of having to ditch his two closest aides to save his leadership amid damaging new allegations over antiSemitism in the party.
But he has been warned that sacrificing Seumas Milne and Karie Murphy may only postpone what one Shadow Minister called an ‘icepick’ coup by rivals – a reference to the murder weapon used in the assassination of Mr Corbyn’s Communist hero Leon Trotsky in 1940.
The Labour leader is this week braced for damaging new testimony over his party’s failure to crack down on anti-Semitism. The Mail on Sunday understands that a BBC Panorama i nvestigation, to be screened on Wednesday, will produce evidence alleging that Mr Corbyn’s own office interfered in disciplinary cases involving antiJewish conduct.
Sources say the programme will include interviews with ex-party workers who are prepared to breach non-disclosure agreements to make on-the-record accusations against their former employer.
Up to eight ex-staffers – some of them formerly ‘very senior’ – are understood to have co- operated with Panorama, in some cases at the risk of legal reprisals.
Sources say their testimonies will focus on ‘named individuals’ within the office of the Opposition Leader. The office includes chief of staff Ms Murphy and strategy director Mr Milne, although both are now said to be centrally employed by the party. One source said the programme would reveal ‘ the politicisation, stealthy and overt, of a process to shift the interpretation of what is anti-Semitic towards a Corbynite view of what constitutes antiSemitism’. Labour is also being privately accused of trying to ‘gag’ Panorama by only agreeing to give an interview if certain questions were not asked.
But the party launched an astonishing attack on the BBC last night and announced it was complaining to director-general Tony Hall.
A source said: ‘Rather than investigate anti-Semitism in the Labour Party in a balanced and impartial way, Panorama appears to have pre-determined its outcome and created a programme to fit a onesided narrative.’
It also accused the BBC of ignoring polling showing Islamophobia within the Tory Party.
The source added: ‘With a possible Election around the corner, this smacks of bias and interference in the political process by the BBC and a clear breach of its own editorial guidelines.’
It called the ex-Labour staffers ‘disaffected former officials’ who had always opposed Mr Corbyn’s leadership and had ‘personal and political axes to grind’.
But in a further blow to the party, Gordon Nardell QC – the lawyer advising the party on dealing with anti-Semitism cases – is to quit, although Labour insisted this had nothing to do with this week’s Panorama programme.
It also emerged that the Equality and Human Rights Commission, already investigating Labour over anti- Semitism, may now probe emails relating to the controversial temporary ‘clearing’ of MP Chris Williamson, who had been suspended for claiming Labour had apologised too much over the affair. The new revelations come amid signs that even Left-wing allies of Mr Corbyn are ready to join forces with party moderates in frustration at his failure to get a grip on antiSemitism and at confusion over the party’s Brexit position.
There is anger at Labour’s plummeting appeal after a poll last week put it in fourth place behind the Liberal Democrats. The news prompted moderate Labour MP Jess Phillips to call openly for Mr Corbyn to consider his position.
In a reference to the death of Leon Trotsky, one Shadow Minister last night provocatively claimed that ‘the ice-picks are being sharpened’ against the party leader. But the ‘insensitive’ language sparked fury from Corbyn allies.
There were reports that even Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell had told Corbyn to his face that both Mr Milne and Ms Murphy have to go.
The Labour leader is understood to have refused – but other sources said he realises he may indeed have to sanction their departure.
Party insiders claim he would be unable to function without the vital support the two aides provide.
Tory members have been suspended from the party over Islamophobic remarks, a Channel 4 Dispatches programme will reveal tomorrow night. The documentary claims people making anti-Islamic remarks on social media included those supporting Boris Johnson.