Labour launches probe into antisemitism allegations before dissolving parliamentary selection committee
The Labour Party has launched an investigation following allegations of antisemitism that were reported to have taken place during the parliamentary selection contest for the Kensington seat.
It was revealed earlier this week that an e-mail circulated to Labour members accused the Muslim Councillor Mete Coban of being a “sellout” to “his people and his race” and being a “supporter of apartheid, racism and baby killers.”
The e-mail also said that the charity he runs “is funded by the United States embassy who are proven to have strong ties with Israel.”
The Party reportedly dissolved the selection committee and announced that it would be carrying out “a serious investigation into antisemitism” as well as over the need to “suspend members due to antisemitism.”
Earlier this year, Party leader Sir Keir Starmer received a standing ovation for saying “That’s why we had to rip antisemitism out by its roots” in his speech at a Party Conference, which proved a marked contrast to the Party’s conferences under Sir Keir’s predecessor.
Campaign Against Antisemitism has lodged a complaint against Jeremy Corbyn, holding him responsible for conduct that is prejudicial or grossly detrimental to the Labour Party, as the Leader during the period of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) shameful findings. Given the serious detriment that this conduct has caused, we are seeking Mr Corbyn’s immediate resuspension and, if the complaint is upheld, we will be requesting his expulsion. On the day of the publication of the EHRC’s report, we also submitted a major complaint against Mr Corbyn and other sitting MPs. These complaints are yet to be acknowledged by the Party, and they must be investigated by an independent disciplinary process that the EHRC has demanded and Sir Keir has promised but has yet to introduce.
The Labour Party was found by the EHRC to have engaged in unlawful discrimination and harassment of Jews. The report followed the EHRC’s investigation of the Labour Party in which Campaign Against Antisemitism was the complainant, submitting hundreds of pages of evidence and legal argument. Sir Keir Starmer called the publication of the report a “day of shame” for the Labour Party.
Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2019 showed that antisemitism on the far-left of British politics has surpassed that of the far-right.
Campaign Against Antisemitism advocates for zero tolerance of antisemitism in public life. To that end we monitor all political parties and strive to ensure that any cases of concern are properly addressed.