JLC ‘stands with’ Panorama whistleblower ‘in face of backlash’
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JLC ‘stands with’ Panorama whistleblower ‘in face of backlash’

'Your interviews were brave and honest, and we are grateful for the risk you took in doing so,' the Jewish Leadership Council Chairman told whistleblowers

Sam Matthews, Head of Disputes 2016-2018, was featured in the BBC Panorama. (Credit: BBC Panorama - Is Labour Anti-Semitic?)
Sam Matthews, Head of Disputes 2016-2018, was featured in the BBC Panorama. (Credit: BBC Panorama - Is Labour Anti-Semitic?)

The Jewish Leadership Council has expressed solidarity with Panorama whistleblower Sam Matthews for breaking the silence on Labour’s handling of antisemitism cases.

Matthews, Labour’s former head of disputes, was among eight whistleblowers on Panorama last week, alleging interference from Jeremy Corbyn’s inner circle in dealing with antisemitism complaints.

But when Panorama was aired, Matthews and other whistleblowers were critcised by a Labour spokesperson who described them as “disaffected former officials”.

Jonathan Goldstein, the chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, expressed his “sincere thanks and solidarity” to the whistleblower and his colleagues who appeared on Panorama in an email released today.

“Your interviews were brave and honest, and we are grateful for the risk you took in doing so,” Goldstein wrote.

“The fight against antisemitism is one we have become all too familiar with, and our concerns about antisemitism in the party have remained unaddressed for far too long.  It is of great comfort to us that we know that there are people like yourself, who are willing to speak up about what they have witnessed and experienced.

“We hope that one day soon all of this will culminate in a tangible and recognisable change for the Labour Party, but until that day, we stand with you in the face of any backlash you may face as a result of your honesty, and thank you again for your bravery.”

 

 

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