Starmer told ‘slaps on wrists’ over anti-Semitism won’t do

LABOUR has been accused of “letting off anti-Jewish racism” after a complaints-handling handbook was published that gave examples of tolerating anti-Semitic behaviour.

A 33-page copy of the Labour Party’s Complaint Handling Handbook posted online and obtained by The Sunday Telegraph gives examples of seven different complaints and sets out how the party responded in each instance.

The handbook gives just a single example of a member being expelled – although the example is not linked to remarks about Jews.

It comes on the first anniversary today of Sir Keir Starmer replacing Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader.

One case study in the handbook describes how “a Labour Party member posted several articles on social media promoting conspiracy theories suggesting that Jewish people were responsible for real and imagined wrongdoings”.

The handbook says: “After investigation, it was concluded that no party rules were specifically breached but a reminder of conduct was issued.”

In another instance, the handbook describes how “a party member posted online the details of an email they’d sent which presented emotive, personal views including that the Jewish Labour Movement and Labour for Israel groups had no validity and should be disbanded. They refused to retract those views.” It says: “A formal warning was issued against the member and they were told it would remain on their record for 18 months. Following this, they resigned their membership.”

Lord Austin of Dudley, a former Labour MP and chairman of the antiextremism campaign Mainstream, said: “The new leadership need to do much more to tackle Corbyn’s terrible legacy. The pace is too slow. People with views like this can’t be tolerated.”

Euan Philipps, a spokesman for Labour Against anti-Semitism, added: “Letting anti-Jewish racism off with a warning shows that Labour’s new complaint-handling handbook is a step backwards.” Karen Pollock, of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said: “A slap on the wrist will not do.”

A Labour Party spokesman said: “This handbook was published as part of the action plan we agreed with the Equality and Human Rights Commission. The cases highlighted refer to previous decisions which do not reflect the current approach of zero tolerance.

“Under Keir Starmer’s leadership, we are continually improving procedures to root out anti-Semitism.”