"... the EHRC found Labour responsible for three breaches of the Equality Act: political interference in anti-Semitism complaints, failure to provide adequate training to those handling anti-Semitism complaints and harassment, including the use of anti-Semitic tropes and suggesting that complaints of anti-Semitism were fake or smears."
The EHRC found examples of political interference, inadequate training for full time party workers in dealing with anti-Semitism and two verified cases of harassment.
Labour has been served with an unlawful act notice, which requires the party to implement the EHRC's recommendations by 10 December or face legal action. Well might Keir Starmer describe yesterday as a black day for the Labour Party.
The publication of the report didn't exactly make Jeremy Corbyn's day either, as the whole anti-Semitism controversy began on his watch. The report was published at 10..00am yesterday; at 10.30am, Jeremy was saying that the scale of the problem had been exaggerated. 30 minutes later, Keir Starmer said:
"... those who believed the issue of anti-Semitism in the party had been "exaggerated" or were a "factional attack" were also "part of the problem and... should be nowhere near the Labour Party."
Starmer now says that he had previously cautioned Corbyn against such denials, but that did not stop Jezza. He repeated his dismissal on TV and, accordingly, was suspended.
All this is in the public domain, but what interests me is the way battle lines are being drawn between Corbynistas and Party loyalists. Already, social media is awash with pro-Corbyn soundbites, including posts from Corbyn himself. I have heard Corbynistas being likened to people who carry on supporting the manager of their football team, even when they have lost every game and been relegated to a lower division. Thanks to James O'Brien on LBC for that gem. They remind me of cultists who continue to follow the leader of their cult, even when that leader is exposed as a charlatan.
This not to say that Corbyn is a charlatan; he is nothing of the kind. He has been a Labour Party member for over 50 years and a dedicated anti-racist. As Labour leader, however, he made serious tactical and strategic errors. He made support for the Palestinian cause part of Labour Party policy, which alienated many Jewish voters (and those of us who thought it irrelevant to British domestic politics). He dithered his way through the Brexit debate - er...what did he stand for? During Labour's anti-Semitism trauma, he made no attempt to bridge the gap with the Jewish community, preferring to let his followers smear the Jewish community leaders in as many ways as possible. He accepted no responsibility for Labour's defeat in the last election, preferring to put the blame on the press, the Labour right-wing, the Zionist Conspiracy and Lord knows who else - anyone but himself.
It needs to be said, that had Corbyn not made that offending TV broadcast, he would not have been suspended. If he does not accept the EHRC findings, then he should challenge it within party rules and not go against his party leader's wishes. Nothing is achieved by his playing the martyr.
Back to the Corbynistas - they will now vilify anyone who, as they see it, opposes them:
"Either you're for us or you're against us." (That's a quote from a Dirty Harry film).
There will be ad hominem attacks on the EHRC members. I predict that, even as I type, someone like George Galloway will be scrutinising them for links with Israel. Keir Starmer will have an inbox full of abusive emails and social media will be ringing with denunciations of Jeremy's critics and lauding him as the Lost Leader - not the leader who lost. They might even get round to accusing me of being part of a Zionist conspiracy, despite the fact that I have never worked for Mossad. If it can proven that I did, then I will ask for back pay.
What worries me, and I'm sure worries many Labour activists, is that this controversy is creating divisions among Labour supporters of all hues. Like I said, Boris and his monkeys must be chortling with glee at the spectacle of a former Leader of the Opposition being suspended. Whatever we think of Keir Starmer, he does recognise this, and realises that Labour needs to unite, if it is to survive as a credible electoral force.
As part of my small effort towards unity, I shall not be deleting Jeremy Corbyn from my Facebook feed, nor will I block his supporters. This matter can only be resolved by constructive dialogue. As Alphonse de Lamartine said:
"Civil wars leave nothing but tombs".
Rock on, Jezza!
Why have you given Corbyn a blue rosette?
ReplyDeleteActually, it's purple.
DeleteWell, I am colour blind, so I'll rephrase the question: why purple?
DeleteA cunning disguise.
Delete