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Eugene

(62,650 posts)
Wed Jul 10, 2019, 01:25 PM Jul 2019

Top Labour figures 'interfered' in anti-Semitism disputes

Source: BBC

Top Labour figures 'interfered' in anti-Semitism disputes

10 June 2019

Senior Labour figures have interfered in the disciplinary process of dealing with accusations of anti-Semitism, ex-party officials have told the BBC's Panorama.

Seumas Milne, one of Jeremy Corbyn's closest aides, told officials the party was "muddling up political disputes with racism" and must review processes.

-snip-

But Sam Matthews, the party's former head of disputes, said he interpreted an email sent by Mr Milne - the Labour leader's communications chief - in March 2018, calling for a review into how complaints were handled, as "an instruction".

Mr Matthews is one of eight former Labour officials - seven of whom worked in the party's Complaints and Disputes Department - who have spoken to Panorama about their experiences of dealing with anti-Semitism cases.

They claim:

• The leader's office was "angry and obstructive" when it came to the issue
• Officials brought in by Ms Formby "overruled" disciplinary decisions and "downgraded" punishments to a "slap on the wrist"
• Mr Milne laughed when advised by a long-serving party official about what Mr Corbyn should do to tackle anti-Semitism in the party
• On one occasion, Jeremy Corbyn's office ordered batches of anti-Semitism complaints to be brought to his Commons office for processing by his aides

-snip-

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48929244


Seumas Milne and Jennie Formby have been accused of interfering in the disciplinary process (PA Media)
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