A spokesperson, responding to
BBC Panorama’s programme, said:
“We completely reject any claim that Labour is antisemitic. We
stand in solidarity with Jewish people, and we’re taking decisive
action to root out antisemitism from our movement and
society.
“The Panorama programme was not a fair or balanced investigation.
It was a seriously inaccurate, politically one-sided polemic,
which breached basic journalistic standards, invented quotes and
edited emails to change their meaning. It was an overtly biased
intervention by the BBC in party political controversy.
“An honest investigation into antisemitism in Labour and wider
society is in the public interest. The Panorama team instead
pre-determined an answer to the question posed by the programme’s
title.
“No proper and serious attempt was made to understand our current
procedures for dealing with antisemitism, which is clearly
essential to reach a fair and balanced judgement. And Panorama
distorted and manipulated the truth and misrepresented evidence
to present a biased and selective account.
“We complained in advance to the BBC over the way the programme
was put together and its choice of a presenter who has expressed
overt personal and political hostility to ’s politics. We will be
pursuing complaints at every level.
“The will fully investigate any
complaints concerning the antisemitic incidents reported by party
members in interviews in the programme.
“Labour stands in solidarity with Jewish people and is fully
committed to the support, defence and celebration of the Jewish
community and its organisations.
“Despite claims made in the programme, Labour is taking decisive
action against antisemitism. Since Jennie Formby became General
Secretary the rate at which antisemitism cases have been dealt
with has increased more than four-fold.
“We will build on the improvements to our procedures made under
Jennie Formby, and continue to act against this repugnant form of
racism.”
