(Title Image: Labour Party via Press Association)
The UK Labour leader, Sir Kerr Starmer MP, has fully accepted the findings and recommendations of the Equality & Human Rights Commission report into antisemitism within the party (pdf).
The inquiry found there were inadequate processes for dealing with antisemitism complaints, use of antisemitic tropes, a downplaying of antisemitism complaints as “fake” or “smears” and evidence of what’s described as “political interference” in antisemitism investigations.
Mr Starmer described the report’s publication as “a day of shame” for the Labour party and apologised for the “pain and grief” caused by the party’s failings.
After trying to downplay the seriousness of the report by saying levels of antisemitism were “overstated”, former Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn MP, was immediately suspended by the party. The prompted anger amongst Mr Corbyn’s allies, who argued for the decision to be overturned.
First Minister, Mark Drakeford (Lab, Cardiff West) – a known supporter of Jeremy Corbyn – said: “Antisemitism is a stain on any society and it has been a stain on the reputation of the Labour Party” but refused to be drawn on Corbyn’s suspension.
Plaid Cymru had recently faced criticism of its own failure to deal with antisemitism. Party leader, Adam Price MS (Plaid, Carms. E. & Dinefwr), announced an internal review to be lead by Liz Saville-Roberts MP as well as antisemitism training for all candidates.
Sahar Al-Faifi – who was at the centre of the Plaid Cymru row – was recently selected as the fourth-placed candidate on the party’s South Wales Central regional list for 2021.
