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Labour MP Rupa Huq cleared over antisemitism allegations

Allegations of antisemitic bullying made by two former staffers were heard from internal party panel, advised by an independent barrister

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Labour MP Rupa Huq has been cleared of wrongdoing by a disciplinary panel over allegations of “antisemitic bullying”, the JC understands.

The Jewish Labour Movement called for the party to withdraw the whip from the Ealing Central MP in June, after the allegations, made by two former staffers, were first reported.

Now a panel, which was advised by an independent barrister, has determined that there was insufficient evidence that Dr Huq had breached Labour’s rulebook.

But Dr Huq’s office denied a claim that she was cleared because of a lack of evidence, saying the letter she received did not make this claim and actually said she was  “not in breach of the Party’s rules”.

When the allegations first surfaced, the MP's spokesperson insisted: “The suggestion that Rupa is antisemitic or has acted inappropriately is entirely false and malicious”.

A former staff member, who is of Jewish heritage, alleged that on his second day in the job Dr Huq repeatedly asked him why his bag was adorned with Israel flags – referring to Star of David badges pinned to it.

A spokesman for Dr Huq said she asked only once.

The first complainant also alleged that she later “banned” him from writing policy responses, after telling him that something he wrote on the Israel-Palestine conflict was too pro-Israel.

On another occasion, Dr Huq allegedly raised a job applicant's Jewish faith during an internal staff e-mail conversation about them.

The Times also reported that a second complainant accused Dr Huq of throwing a “No Tolerance for Antisemitism” poster on the floor.

The matter was reportedly closed on September 2.

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