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Formal EHRC Enquiry into Labour's Antisemitism


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The Party that wants to govern Britain is back in the news again. Is this what we in Scotland are encouraged to call bigoted sectarianism? If so, maybe the EHRC could have a close look at the SNP while they're at it.

 

Labour faces formal inquiry over handling of anti-Semitism amid claims it breached equalities law

Britain's equality watchdog has announced a formal inquiry into the Labour Party's handling of anti-Semitism cases amid claims that the party broke equalities law. The Equality and Human Rights Commission said that it believes Labour "may have unlawfully discriminated against people because of their ethnicity and religious beliefs". In a statement it said: "Our concerns are sufficient for us to consider using our statutory enforcement powers. As set out in our enforcement policy, we are now engaging with the Labour Party to give them an opportunity to respond." It comes after the Campaign Against Antisemitism submitted a dossier to the body asking it to open an investigation into "discrimination against Jews and victimisation of those who oppose anti-Semitism in the Labour Party." A second, more detailed complaint was submitted by the Jewish Labour Movement. The Equality and Human Rights Commission will now begin "pre-enforcement proceedings", under which it will meet with the Labour Party leadership and ask for it to account for allegations about its handling of anti-Semitism cases. The commission can then decide whether launch a statutory investigion. It will be able to use statutory enforcement powers to compel Labour to reveal details about its handling of anti-Semitism cases. It would only the second time in the EHRC's history that it has mounted an inquiry under section 20 of the equality act. Gideon Falter, chairman of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “The Labour Party has repeatedly failed to address its own anti-semitism problem, resulting in MPs and members abandoning the Party. It is a sad indictment that the once great anti-racist Labour Party is now being investigated by the equality and human rights regulator it established just a decade ago." A Labour spokesman said: “We completely reject any suggestion the party has acted unlawfully and will be co-operating fully with the EHRC. "Labour is fully committed to the support, defence and celebration of the Jewish community and its organisations." Mr Corbyn was on Wednesday forced to make a hurried about-turn over the appointment of the daughter of a key adviser to handle complaints about anti-Semitism in the party. Laura Murray, the daughter of his close ally Andrew Murray - who is also chief of staff to Unite leader Len McCluskey - was announced as interim head of complaints, prompting an outcry and a hasty retreat. Labour MPs were appalled that the party’s leadership had apparently considered giving the job to Ms Murray given her father’s close relationship to Mr Corbyn. The appointment was confirmed by party figures to The Telegraph, moments before the party said the appointment had been an “error” by a member of staff. Lord Falconer, who is in talks with the party about overseeing the party’s complaints handling, made clear he opposed the appointment of Ms Murray on Tuesday. One source said the peer, who will have the support of a paid firm of lawyers in his work, had made clear giving a role to Ms Murray in the complaints unit was “a very unwise thing to do”. Wes Streeting, a Labour MP, said: “Given the huge controversy surrounding members of the leader’s office interfering in anti-Semitism cases … the optics of moving people from the leader’s office into management positions overseeing complaints in head office is utterly dreadful.” A Labour source said the announcement had been an "error", adding: “Laura is not acting head of complaints. The head of complaints is still in post. She decided to move on to a new job a few months ago but is still currently in post. The job will be advertised.” Mr Corbyn is under fire after whistleblowers claimed his most senior allies intervened in cases involving anti-Semitism as a “matter of routine”. Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge said members of his inner circle interfered to reduce the sanctions that were imposed on activists who made anti-Semitic comments. In a letter to Dame Margaret yesterday, Mr Corbyn admitted a "very small group of staff" in his office were asked by the party's governance and legal unit to help clear a backlog of cases. He said that in an "act of good faith" his staff had complied but that decisions remained with the GLU and that there had never been any attempt to overrule them. He said: “The decision-making remained with staff members from GLU, and there was never any attempt to overrule them.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/07/labour-faces-formal-inquiry-handling-anti-semitism-amid-claims/

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