LabourList blog on Starmer/Corbyn antisemitism issues

Keir Starmer announced yesterday that he would not be restoring the whip to Jeremy Corbyn, arguing that the Islington MP had "undermined and set back our work in restoring trust and confidence in the Labour Party’s ability to tackle antisemitism". Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl welcomed the decision, but Starmer has seen a backlash from the left. Socialist Campaign Group MPs issued a statement calling for the reversal of the decision, while Unite general secretary Len McCluskey declared the move “vindictive and vengeful” and Jon Lansman argued it had “driven a coach and horses through the party’s disciplinary process”. Former MP and parliamentary private secretary to John McDonnell Thelma Walker revealed that she quit the party last night. McDonnell tweeted in response: "When Thelma Walker, one of Labour’s loyalest of the loyal, feels so strongly that she resigns then it’s time voices like hers are listened to."

What happens next? Former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown weighed in this morning, telling Sky News he thinks Starmer will restore the whip but stressing that Corbyn must make a full apology – "no ifs, no buts, no qualifications". Corbyn allies are outraged that the ex-leader has been blocked from sitting as a Labour MP, while his critics remain upset that the Islington MP was readmitted at all. Meanwhile, Starmer's spokesperson has vowed that the party will clear the backlog of internal antisemitism disciplinary cases, following the conclusion of Corbyn's, using the current disciplinary system – a system Starmer yesterday said "does not have the confidence of the Jewish community". One pro-Starmer national executive committee member, who considered Corbyn’s case, has announced that he will no longer be volunteering for disputes panels and suggested that the party pause all complaints while the new system is set up. It is not currently clear how the new independents complaints process, mandated by the Equality and Human Rights Commission report, will be established without a party conference.