Starmer orders review into leaked anti-Semitism report
Labour leader faces biggest test to date over dossier's ‘incendiary’ claims
Keir Starmer has ordered a review into a leaked internal report of the party’s handing of anti-Semitism claims.
Sky News says the leaking “has sent shockwaves through the party,” while the Evening Standard says the issue is Starmer’s “first test” as leader.
Under mounting pressure to act, Starmer said that an independent investigation would examine the leaking of the 860-page document, as well as its contents including the “wider culture and practices” it refers to and the “background and circumstances in which the report was commissioned and the process involved”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The dossier, which includes 10,000 separate emails and thousands of private WhatsApp communications, is a draft drawn up to help inform the party’s responses to an investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
It concluded that “factional hostility” to Starmer’s predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn, hampered efforts to deal with allegations of antisemitism in the Labour party.
The report says there was an “abundant evidence of a hyper-factional atmosphere prevailing in party HQ… which appears to have affected the expeditious and resolute handling of disciplinary complaints”.
It claimed to have found “no evidence” of anti-Semitism complaints being treated differently to other forms of complaint, or of current or former staff being “motivated by anti-Semitic intent”.
However, writes the BBC’s political correspondent Helen Catt, another claim in the report makes the matter even more explosive.
At the 2017 general election, the report says, “some key staff even appeared to work against the party's core objective of winning elections”.
“It’s the allegation that Labour staff worked against a win for Mr Corbyn in the 2017 election that is likely to be most incendiary, if proven,” says Catt.
Richard Burgon, who was shadow justice secretary under Corbyn, said the revelations had prompted many party members to consider leaving.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Another day of chaos in DC'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
6 scenic white water rafting destinations to get your heart racing
The Week Recommends Have a rip-roaring time on the water
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Dangerous substances in Lunchables are raising concerns over children's health
In the Spotlight High levels of lead and sodium were recently found in the snack packages
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Barack Obama 'behind Starmer transformation'
Under The Radar The former US president urged Labour leader to 'talk more openly'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Britain's biggest political donors
The Explainer With the 2024 general election set to be the highest-spending contest ever we look at who is giving to which party and why
By The Week UK Published
-
Keir Starmer: The Biography – five things we learned
Why everyone's talking about New book offers glimpses behind the Labour leader's political persona
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What will £28bn green investment U-turn cost Labour?
Today's Big Question Dropping flagship pledge 'will confirm workers' scepticism of the endless promises of jam tomorrow', said union leader
By The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published