Labour probed over human rights

A human rights watchdog has launched a formal investigation into whether the Labour Party “unlawfully discriminated against, harassed or victimised people because they are Jewish”.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said it had contacted Labour after receiving a “number of complaints” about allegations of antisemitism within the party.

The EHRC said the investigation would seek to determine whether “unlawful acts have been committed by the party and/or its employees and/or its agents” and if the party had “responded to complaints of unlawful acts in a lawful, efficient and effective manner ”.

Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson said he had warned the party it faced a “vortex of shame” if it failed to deal with antisemitism. He said: “I feel utter shame that this investigation is necessary, but I truly hope that it will provide the means to finally root out anti-jewish racism from our party once and for all.”

The EHRC is likely to request interviews with key figures in the party and will have the power to demand access to correspondence, emails and other information to determine how Labour dealt with allegations. Labour said it would “cooperate fully” with the EHRC and rejected “any suggestion that the party does not handle anti-semitism complaints fairly”.

A party spokeswoman said: “Labour is fully committed to the support, defence and celebration of the Jewish community.”