UK equalities watchdog ‘satisfied’ with Labour action on antisemitism

The Labour party has successfully introduced reforms to tackle antisemitism in the party, according to the UK equalities watchdog, marking what leader Sir Keir Starmer called “an important moment” in the organisation’s history.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission on Wednesday released the results of its monitoring, which followed a damning report into the problem in October 2020.

The findings end one of the most damaging passages in the party’s history, when the EHRC found it had acted unlawfully by failing to rein in antisemitism under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

The 2020 report prompted Starmer, then newly installed as Labour leader, to suspend his predecessor from the party whip at Westminster.

The EHRC’s report found that Labour had unlawfully allowed antisemitic harassment and political interference in antisemitism complaints, while failing to provide adequate training to those handling such complaints.

The party agreed to follow the EHRC’s recommendations to tackle the problems identified and submit to official monitoring to ensure appropriate action had been taken.

Corbyn, who remains suspended but who continues to be an MP for the London seat of Islington North, has insisted his opponents within the party exaggerated the scale of antisemitism for political reasons.

Starmer will attend an event in east London on Wednesday to mark the ending of monitoring. He is expected to say in a statement that the end of the EHRC’s oversight represents “an important moment in the history of the Labour party”.

The leader is also expected to pay tribute to those who have made it their mission to “restore, renew and rebuild” the Labour party on behalf of the country.

“It is thanks to them that we can say firmly, proudly, confidently: the Labour party has changed,” he will say.

However, Starmer will also warn that the process of “restoring Labour” is not complete. “I don’t see today’s announcement as the end of the road. I see it as a signpost that we are heading in the right direction,” he will say.

Marcial Boo, EHRC chief executive, said the body had reviewed Labour’s progress on the implementation of its recommendations.

“On 31 January 2023, we concluded our monitoring as we were satisfied that the party had implemented the necessary actions to improve its complaints, recruitment, training and other procedures to the legal standards required,” he said.

“This will help to protect current and future Labour party members from discrimination and harassment.”