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Labour expels 25 people over antisemitism in a single day
Party says 'significant reforms' have helped it act fast but looming EHRC report appears to have pressured it to act
February 12, 2020 13:54
Party says 'significant reforms' have helped it act fast but looming EHRC report appears to have pressured it to act
February 12, 2020 13:54Labour recently expelled 25 party members in a single day over antisemitism as a result of “significant reforms” to disciplinary procedures made by General Secretary Jennie Formby, the party has revealed.
Party sources confirmed on Wednesday the crackdown on those found to be guilty of anti-Jewish racism and said those who were expelled were among Ms Formby’s most recently published breakdown on figures.
Labour also revealed that party staff were themselves responsible for intervening and identifying around 10 per cent of antisemitism cases emerging against members in 2019 – with most leading to suspensions.
Party staff took a proactive stance in flagging up Labour members' on social media and after reviewing the bi-annual reports from the Community Security Trust.
The new drive is believed to explain the decision to suspend Wirral council Jo Bird – who had previously been suspended for her “Jew process” and “privileging” or anti-Jewish racism remarks last March - last Thursday as she campaigned to be elected onto Labour’s ruling body.
Also expelled was Maureen Fitzsimmons who had faced multiple complaints about her social media posts – including messages suggesting “Jews control everything” and “corrupt Jewish puppet bankers”.
Anti-Israel blogger Asa Winstanley also announced he had quit the party after the party demanded he answer questions about his his repeated dismissals of Labour’s antisemitism crisis and references to the “Israeli lobby in the UK”.
Party sources confirmed some of the 25 who were expelled were kicked out by the party’s ruling national executive committee (NEC), using new expulsion powers approved at Labour's conference last year.
Others were ejected from the party by the National Constitutional Committee, which reviewed the cases on paper rather than holding a separate hearing for each case.
The party said, historically, it had been held back as by slow, outdated procedures and the intervention of lawyers delaying processes or threatening legal action against the party.
Sources close to Ms Formby said that, under new procedures brought in under her leadership, staff have conducted audits of historical antisemitism complaints which she accepted had not been dealt with swiftly or robustly enough.
Gavin Sealey, another Labour member, confirmed his expulsion over antisemitism – but disputed that his repeated support for articles written by notorious antisemite Gild Atzmon supported this charge.
Another Labour member Stephen Orme confirmed his expulsion from the party, saying “friends of Israel are a dominant and obsessive force.”
Meanwhile, Sharon Rothwell said she had been suspended for "posting vids” by conspiracy theorist David Icke.
Many critics suspect Labour has been pressured to act ahead of the publication of a report into claims the party is institutionally antisemitic by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.
The report is expected to now be published in May, the JC has learned.
But a Sunday Times report last December alleged hundreds of complaints had been left unresolved since the summer of 2018, including cases of Holocaust denial.
Leadership candidate Lisa Nandy expressed anger over the party’s continued failure to deal with the hugebacklog of disciplinary cases ahead of the election of a replacement for Jeremy Corbyn on April 4.
A Labour source said: “As a result of significant reforms made since Jennie Formby became General Secretary our procedures are more effective than ever before and more robust than any other political party, and those who engage in antisemitism are being swiftly removed from our ranks."
