Jeremy Corbyn backs plan to speed up expelling antisemitic Labour members
Jeremy Corbyn admits "some complaints have taken too long to deal with" but a Jewish MP says the new plan is "not enough".
Monday 22 July 2019 21:30, UK
Jeremy Corbyn has proposed a plan to speed up Labour's response to serious cases of antisemitism.
He wants them to be referred to a special panel that would have the power to expel members for discrimination against Jewish people.
The body would be made up of general secretary Jennie Formby and officers on the National Executive Committee (NEC).
But Jewish Labour MP Ruth Smeeth has told Sky News the process would still not be "independent" enough.
Mr Corbyn unveiled the proposal at a special shadow cabinet meeting on Monday afternoon, where he admitted current processes were "not good enough".
He also published a second plan, which would give existing NEC antisemitism panels the power to impose a suspension or expulsion, with a right of appeal.
It is "wrong to deny there is antisemitism in the Labour Party", he told his most senior frontbench colleagues at the meeting, adding: "We have to stand for a serious, anti-racist, inclusive socialism."
He admitted that "some complaints have taken too long to deal with", which he called "not good enough".
His favoured plan will now be put to the NEC.
There have been complaints against 625 members for alleged antisemitism in the first six months of 2019.
Ms Smeeth, a Labour backbencher, said the proposal backed by Mr Corbyn "really isn't enough".
"The Jewish community has been clear they want an independent process," she said.
"Not just for anti-Jewish hate but also for misogyny, for all form of hate crime and racism because none of us have any faith in the system whatsoever."
Clive Lewis, a shadow frontbencher during most of Mr Corbyn's leadership, called the idea a "step in the right direction".
He told Sky News: "I don't think there's going to be a point when we can say, 'Job's a good-un, we can relax now, it's all done'. I think this is going to be a constant process and I think with all forms of racism it requires constant vigilance."
The Norwich South MP added: "A lot of people say that if you show any form of antisemitism - immediate expulsion.
"My issue with that is that as a party of anti-racism we're not just about trying to change attitudes within our own party, we're trying to change attitudes within wider society.
"So simply just pushing those people out, that cancer of antisemitism, without attempting to challenge it and educate people, I think is wrong.
"It's not part of what the mission statement of being part of the Labour Party is about."
Meanwhile, a meeting of Labour peers drew back from moving a motion of no confidence in Mr Corbyn's leadership.
But a source said there was "unanimous support" for Baroness Hayter, who was sacked as a Brexit spokeswoman for comparing the "bunker mentality" of Mr Corbyn's inner circle to the "last days of Hitler".
The Labour leader has been under pressure since a series of whistleblowers claimed they were undermined in their efforts to tackle antisemitism in the party.
A party spokesperson responded by branding them "disaffected former officials" opposed to Mr Corbyn's leadership who had "personal and political axes to grind", casting doubt on their "credibility" as sources.
That prompted a furious revolt from around 200 people - including ex-aides to party leaders, special advisers and even a former member of the NEC - who accused the party of "smearing Jewish victims".