July 9, 2021
LONDON: Eight current or former Labour members have lost a High Court claim against the party over its disciplinary process for investigating complaints of anti-Semitism.
They alleged Labour had acted unfairly by failing to close investigations or revoke their suspension or expulsion after the equality watchdog found that the party’s disciplinary procedure was unfair.
The Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found there was “a lack of a clear and fair process for respondents” to allegations of anti-Semitism in an October 2019 report, the court heard. Following the report, the party said it accepted the EHRC’s recommendations and findings in full, with leader Sir Keir Starmer saying Labour would establish “an independent complaints process as soon as possible”.
Labour activists lose High Court challenge over anti-semitism complaints
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Labour s disciplinary process for investigating anti-semitism complaints procedurally unfair, lawyers tell High Court
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LABOUR members filed High Court action against the party this week over investigations into their alleged conduct taking place under a system that it admitted was “unfair”.
The group of seven, four of whom are Jewish, said Labour had accepted the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) report on the party’s handling of anti-semitism complaints and that its disciplinary process was “not fit for purpose.”
However the members said that they were investigated over anti-semitism claims under the very process that Labour said it would replace.
The group, Labour Activists For Justice (LA4J), said it had been “unjustly accused of undermining the party’s ability to campaign against racism, have been working for six months to persuade the party to improve its disciplinary process for the benefit of all members, but have been rejected at every approach.”