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Corbyn's ex-disputes chief says he 'deeply regrets' he failed to 'ease the fears of so many Jews'
Thomas Gardiner criticises Lib Dems call for him to quit as Camden councillor
November 3, 2020 09:11
Thomas Gardiner criticises Lib Dems call for him to quit as Camden councillor
November 3, 2020 09:11Labour ex-disputes chief Thomas Gardiner has told the JC he believes he “worked flat out over the last few years to combat antisemitism among party members.”
Responding to calls by the Camden Liberal Democrats for him to now stand down as a Labour councillor for Kilburn, Mr Gardiner added: “I deeply regret that the work which I and other party staff did was not enough to ease the fears that so many Jews experienced.”
And he accused the Lib Dem Group of seeking to gain “political advantage” from the publication of the damming EHRC report into Labour’s handling of complaints under Mr Corbyn with their call for him to resign.
Mr Gardiner was referenced 20 times in equality watchdog’s report but he said the 130-page document “did not find any wrongdoing on my part.”
Labour’s former Director of Governance and Legal claimed the report “in fact identifies significant improvements which came about through my work for the Labour Party, including for example large increases in the number of cases which resulted in expulsion for antisemitic conduct and the speed at which those expulsions took place.”
Mr Gardiner also said he wanted engage with Jewish groups further in the future.
He said: “I remain committed to the fight against antisemitism. If it would help the process of healing between the Jewish community and the Labour Party, then I would welcome direct conversations with the representatives of any Jewish community groups who wish to speak.”
The report notes how Mr Gardiner was seconded to then-Labour general secretary Jennie Formby’s office in April 2018 and permanently appointed into the role overseeing antisemitism complaints two months later.
Several witnesses claimed Labour’s leadership had installed Mr Gardner, who was an ally of Jeremy Corbyn, to ensure they could gain control of the complaints system.
While the EHRC report said they “make no findings as to the motivations behind his secondment” into the crucial role, there was evidence that Mr Gardiner “did take a decision-making, rather than purely advisory, role in some antisemitism complaints.”
The watchdog concluded they “understand why some people perceived Thomas Gardiner to have been ‘installed’ by the Party’s senior leadership for political reasons.”
Mr Gardiner, alongside other senior officials who worked for Mr Corbyn, including Seumas Milne, has now left his role within the party.
But he continues to serve as a Labour councillor in Camden.
Camden Liberal Democrats issued a statement that following the publication of the EHRC report noting there has been “no statement of apology, regret or contrition from Cllr. Gardiner.”
But in his statement to the JC on Monday, Mr Gardiner added: “It is therefore disappointing that the Liberal Democrats have chosen to seek political advantage, rather than focus on healing the deep pain which so many in the Jewish community have felt. “
