We welcome Jeremy Corbyn’s reinstatement to the Labour Party, however, the fast track hearing for the former Leader has shown how much the Labour Party is playing politics with Anti-Semitism
Nineteen days ago Jeremy Corbyn was suspended from the Labour Party hours after the report by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission into Labour Party Anti-Semitism
In response, Jeremy Corbyn claimed “the scale of the problem” was “dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents inside and outside the party, as well as by much of the media”.
But within hours, he was suspended pending an investigation – a decision his successor Sir Keir Starmer claimed he had no involvement in but supported.
Labour Party Civil War
It is clear that the decision to suspend Jeremy Corbyn was wrong, what is even more clear is the fact that the Labour Party and Sir Keir Starmer could not maintain this war of attrition and the haemorrhaging of Labour members resulting from the suspension. The overwhelming support by the membership for its former leader was unprecedented.
What is also clear is that Sir Keir Starmer does not have a clue what he is doing. It was both politicly stupid to suspend Jeremy Corbyn but even more stupid was to then make adversary comments upon his pending reinstatement.
However, what is most unjust is the fact that there are thousands of members still waiting and have been for months if not years to have their cases heard by the NEC.
“It seems within the Labour Party the common people don’t matter, to them its just politics.“
JC’s reinstatement is political, if not why are other members pushed back in the queue waiting for a fair hearing?
There are literately thousands of Labour members suspended from the Party at this moment in time, many have been suspended over a year.
Where we are sure many members are deserving of their suspensions many members are not and many more have been victims of right-wing Labour staffers shown in the #LabourLeaks dossier, Staffers working within the Labour Party’s Governance and Legal Unit who bragged of carrying out a Stasi type cull of Left-wing Labour members
These members have been living in a form of purgatory unable to hold any Labour Party position, vote or attend meetings.
Members are even banned from discussing their suspensions especially online. With many suspensions unduly reported in national and international newspapers along with online media outlets where they have been treated unfairly without due process or the customary innocent until proven guilty, this has meant they have had to endure social media attacks from people ignorant to the facts yet willing to cast aspersions, knowing the suspended members are tied in their response to accusations of racism or being an antisemite.
The fact that Jeremy Corbyn did not deserve to be suspended is neither here nor there, it is about due process fair hearings, equality and justice that thousands of other members have been denied.
If these members are guilty of Anti-Semitism then they should be removed from the Party but to leave them without any form of recourse to plead their case for what has been for some, years in waiting, then this is justice denied, guilty or not.
It is not even fair to say that Jeremy Corbyn’s position has an MP was a fair and understandable reason to fast track his hearing, other high profile MP’s and political personalities have had to wait month’s or years to have their cases heard just like the common members.
In February 2019, Chris Williamson was notified of a formal investigation and later suspended from the Labour Party for his comments about the party’s response to criticism over its handling of allegations of antisemitism within the party.
After an investigation, Williamson was reinstated in June 2019 with a formal warning but was resuspended two days later when the party decided to review the disciplinary decision.
In October 2019, Williamson won a High Court challenge to the legality of the review of the disciplinary decision but similar charges had been made on 3 September 2019, involving a further suspension, and the High Court ruled the Labour Party’s disciplinary procedure with regard to these charges should run its course.
The judgement was reserved until October.
Chris Williamson was then issued with the third suspension six days prior to the hearing, just 36 hours after the third preliminary hearing about the the court date.
Labour bureaucrats were trying to get it delayed, but the judge decided after their third attempt, didn’t just throw out their objections, he actually named a date. So the bureaucrats panicked as they knew their case was very weak and so issued a further suspension.
In November that year, Labour’s National Executive Committee blocked Williamson from standing as a Labour candidate in the 2019 United Kingdom general election.
The case of both Jackie Walker and Ken Livingston was just as long and again with more twist and turns than a Tarantino plot.
Sadly thousands of members have been suspended over the last nineteen days for showing their support for Jeremy Corbyn or in many cases have simply left the party. They will find themselves forgotten victims waiting for months if not years in the vain hope of a fair hearing.
If there was any justice in this world and we know there is not, that’s why we fight, Labour must now immediately reinstate all members suspended for expressing solidarity with Corbyn or condemning his suspension.
This is not over by a long stroke and the rabbit hole the Labour Party are so submerged in will never see an end. It is clearly Civil War
Sir Keir Starmers lack of diplomacy and experience.
It is yet to be officially announced that Jeremy Corbyn will have the whip restored. However, it has been reported a group of MPs have threatened to resign if Jeremy Corbyn is readmitted to the parliamentary Labour party.
Starmer’s short five years as a Labour Party MP is telling in his response to Jeremy Corbyn’s reinstatement. Instead of trying to build bridges hoe his painting himself and subsequently the Labour Party into a tight corner.
Sir Keir Starmer tweeted this evening that today’s decision marked ‘another painful day for the Jewish community and those Labour members who have fought so hard to tackle antisemitism’.
He added: ‘I will not allow a focus on one individual to prevent us from doing the vital work of tackling antisemitism. When I stood as leader of the Labour Party, I was clear that my first priority would be to root out antisemitism. It still is.’
I know that this has been another painful day for the Jewish community and those Labour members who have fought so hard to tackle antisemitism.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 17, 2020
I know the hurt that has been caused and the trauma people have felt.
Sir Keir Starmer’s comments came after Jeremy Corbyn called on Labour to “come together”.
“I am pleased to have been reinstated in the Labour Party and would like to thank party members, trade unionists and all who have offered solidarity,” the Islington North MP wrote on Twitter.
“Our movement must now come together to oppose and defeat this deeply damaging Conservative government.”
I am pleased to have been reinstated in the Labour Party and would like to thank party members, trade unionists and all who have offered solidarity.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) November 17, 2020
Our movement must now come together to oppose and defeat this deeply damaging Conservative government.
It is very telling these MPs are the same MPs that cried loudest at Chris Williamson’s suspension being lifted…
Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge, tweeted: ‘This is a broken outcome from a broken system. A factional, opaque and dysfunctional complaints process could never reach a fair conclusion. This is exactly why the EHRC instructed Labour to setup an independent process!
‘I simply cannot comprehend why it is acceptable for Corbyn to be a Labour MP if he thinks antisemitism is exaggerated and a political attack, refuses to apologise, never takes responsibility for his actions & rejects the findings of the EHRC report. Ridiculous.’
Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, said Mr Corbyn’s ‘shambolic suspension and readmission’ was ‘nothing more than a media stunt to blunt the blow of the EHRC’s report.
‘By readmitting Mr Corbyn, the Labour Party has once again excused anti-Semitism and proved itself unwilling to address it,’ he said.
‘Mr Corbyn’s suspension should have remained in place until all of our complaints against him were investigated, but no investigation has been undertaken.
‘Once again, we see the impact of Labour’s failure to implement an independent disciplinary process as demanded by the EHRC and Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership pledges that have now gone unfulfilled for almost a year.
‘The Jewish community has been conned. Mr Corbyn must be resuspended immediately pending investigation of our complaint against him under the new independent process mandated by the EHRC. Britain is watching.’
It is quite clear the war will go on and Sir Keir Starmer looks set for a political hiding that will end with a Labour Party split.
Labour Heartlands fully support Jewish voice for Labour in their statement.
We welcome the news that Jeremy Corbyn’ suspension has been lifted by the NEC three weeks after it was unjustifiably imposed by the General Secretary David Evans.
We strongly urge the Party to apologise to Jeremy Corbyn for the highhanded and public nature of his suspension and the consequent distress he has inevitably suffered as a result of media intrusion and the ongoing attacks that have continued following his reinstatement.
We reiterate the call we made earlier for the party to lift the suspensions and investigations into all those who have supported Jeremy and expressed solidarity with him.
This would demonstrate that the NEC decision will pave the way to the development of the party unity to which Keir Starmer insists he is committed – and on which platform he was elected by the membership. The people of this country and the world desperately need this to provide a coherent and united opposition to Boris Johnson’s callous and inept government.
Support Independent Journalism Today
Our unwavering dedication is to provide you with unbiased news, diverse perspectives, and insightful opinions. We're on a mission to ensure that those in positions of power are held accountable for their actions, but we can't do it alone. Labour Heartlands is primarily funded by me, Paul Knaggs, and by the generous contributions of readers like you. Your donations keep us going and help us uphold the principles of independent journalism. Join us in our quest for truth, transparency, and accountability – donate today and be a part of our mission!
Like everyone else, we're facing challenges, and we need your help to stay online and continue providing crucial journalism. Every contribution, no matter how small, goes a long way in helping us thrive. By becoming one of our donors, you become a vital part of our mission to uncover the truth and uphold the values of democracy.
While we maintain our independence from political affiliations, we stand united against corruption, injustice, and the erosion of free speech, truth, and democracy. We believe in the power of accurate information in a democracy, and we consider facts non-negotiable.
Your support, no matter the amount, can make a significant impact. Together, we can make a difference and continue our journey toward a more informed and just society.
Thank you for supporting Labour Heartlands
