MP McMahon responds to report investigating anti-Semitism within Labour Party

Reporter: Grace Marner
Date published: 29 October 2020


A damming report looking into the the Labour Party's handling of complaints about anti-Semitism has been published.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission, who carried out the investigation, said Labour was "responsible for unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination" under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.

They also accuse his office of dealing with complaints about anti-Semitism in the party and identify "serious failings" in his handling of the situation. 

The Party was plagued with complaints back in 2016 from the Jewish Labour Movement as well as individuals and other groups. 

The report added that there were three breaches of the Equality Act (2010) relating to harrassment, political interference in antisimitism complaints and failure to provide adequate training to those handling antisemitism complaints.

Mr Corbyn insists the scale of the problem's been "dramatically overstated". He has been suspended from the Labour Party pending an investigation.

MP for Oldham West and Royton has released a statement as the Chair of the Co-operative Party:

“The publication of the EHRC’s report into the Labour Party must prove a turning point in the fight against antisemitism. Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner have pledged to tackle antisemitism within the party, and they have our full support in doing so.

We can not underestimate the pain that so many Jewish supporters, members or representatives of the Labour Party have felt in recent years. The report makes clear that only determined change will fix this problem, and that work must begin without delay.

Due to the unique and enduring relationship between the Labour and Co-operative Parties, we commit to working together so that both our parties are free from antisemitism.”

He also tweeted saying that they have "a significant way to go to root out anti-semitism" and to "rebuild trust".


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