EHRC may now include leaked pro-Corbyn antisemitism report in its own hate probe

"The ultimate irony is that those who denied the existence of antisemitism as a ‘smear’ now say it was very real without a flicker of realisation that they have now condemned Labour Party as being institutionally racist – the very reason that the party’s lawyers did not want to submit the report."

The leaked report, which was compiled on the orders of departing General Secretary Jennie Formby and emerged last month, claimed that factional hostility towards Mr Corbyn contributed to the party’s ineffective handling of antisemitism complaints and undermined its 2017 election campaign.

It also included criticisms of the party and some of its leading figures by staff members in private messages.

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell confirmed the report was put together by the party’s governance and legal unit so order that it could be submitted to the EHRC.

But this move was blocked by Labour’s own lawyers.

But after it was published by Sky News in redacted form, the full report was then leaked onto the internet and published in its entirety by pro-Corbyn websites.

This prompted an outcry from Jewish Labour members and other party officials who were named in the report - often as whistleblowers – after their details were circulated online, and even found their way onto neo-Nazi websites in America.

Labour is now facing financial peril as scores of legal claims citing data, privacy and libel laws have been submitted to the party.

Sir Keir Starmer has ordered an independent investigation into the leaked report , which is being chaired by the highly respected Martin Forde QC. This probe will look at how the report came to be commissioned and the culture behind it.

A spokesperson for the EHRC told the:’’We’re unable to comment on the investigation at the moment as it is  live and ongoing.’’