An apology from the Labour
Party to John Ware
The Labour Party has today issued an unreserved apology to John
Ware, who investigated and presented the July 2019 BBC Panorama
programme about antisemitism within the Labour Party.
Before the broadcast of the programme the Labour Party issued a
press release that contained defamatory and false allegations
about John Ware. We would like to take this opportunity to
withdraw these allegations. We would like to apologise
unreservedly for the distress, embarrassment and hurt caused by
their publication.
As we acknowledge in the Statement in Open Court, John Ware is a
very experienced broadcast and print journalist, producer and
author, and we have agreed to pay damages to him.
Under the leadership of and , we are committed to tackling antisemitism within the
Labour Party. Antisemitism has been a stain on the Labour Party
in recent years. It has caused unacceptable and unimaginable
levels of grief and distress for many in the Jewish community, as
well as members of staff.
If we are to restore the trust of the Jewish community, we must
demonstrate a change of leadership. That means being open,
transparent and respecting the right of whistleblowers and the
free press and freedom of expression which includes the right to
object to things written or published. We are determined to
deliver that change.
An apology from the
Labour Party to Kat Buckingham, Michael Creighton, Samuel
Matthews, Dan Hogan, Louise Withers Green, Benjamin Westerman and
Martha Robinson
The Labour Party has today issued an unreserved apology to the
former members of staff who contributed to a BBC Panorama
programme about antisemitism within the Labour Party in July
2019.
Before the broadcast of the programme, the Labour Party issued a
press release that contained defamatory and false allegations
about these Whistleblowers.
We acknowledge the many years of dedicated and committed service
that the Whistleblowers have given to the Labour Party as members
and as staff. We appreciate their valuable contribution at all
levels of the Party.
We unreservedly withdraw all allegations of bad faith, malice and
lying. We would like to apologise unreservedly for the distress,
embarrassment and hurt caused by their publication. We have
agreed to pay them damages.
Under the leadership of and , we are committed to tackling antisemitism within the
Labour Party. Antisemitism has been a stain on the Labour Party
in recent years. It has caused unacceptable and unimaginable
levels of grief and distress for many in the Jewish community, as
well as members of staff.
If we are to restore the trust of the Jewish community, we must
demonstrate a change of leadership. That means being open,
transparent and respecting the right of whistleblowers. We are
determined to deliver that change.