Labour urged to 'get a grip' and clear backlog of anti-Semitism complaints

Jeremy Corbyn has previously said the number of cases over the past three years represents less than 0.1 per cent of Labour’s membership
Neil Hanna/PA
Kate Proctor28 August 2018
WEST END FINAL

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Labour today faced calls to bring in an independent body to investigate a reported backlog of almost 300 complaints of anti-Semitism which will take “years” to complete.

The party’s disciplinary panel is said to be investigating 70 people in relation to allegations with another 200 complaints awaiting a review on whether there will be a full probe.

Euan Philipps, spokesman for campaign group Labour Against Antisemitism, said: “An independent, objective and professional outside body has to be brought in and allowed to get a grip on this crisis.

He said: “The Labour Party is overwhelmed by cases and instead of taking preventative action it is facing a disintegration of reputation and integrity.”

He said the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) disputes body would be better placed to deal with complaints specifically on anti-Semitism.

Labour MP Neil Coyle said the unit needs more staff considering the volume of alleged incidents, adding: “An increase in staff and resources has been called for, for over a year.”

He said: “The impartiality of the process has been questioned several times and the fairest way to adjudicate on any complaints of any nature whatsoever is an independent body to oversee them.”

The party today denied claims its unit is close to collapse, with a source saying: “We do not recognise these figures at all.”

Jeremy Corbyn has previously said the number of cases over the past three years represents less than 0.1 per cent of Labour’s membership of more than half a million.

Calls for an independent body to investigate Labour activists accused of anti-Semitism may contravene the party’s structure as a members organisation, as they are bound by data protection legislation which affects its ability to hand over members’ data to third party.

Labour have advertised recently for additional staff to their governance and legal unit.

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