Labour MPs to press for independent disciplinary procedure

Labour MPs are set to press for an independent body to take over the party’s disciplinary process in the wake of the Sunday Times‘ latest revelations.

Liverpool Riverside MP Dame Louise Ellman will be among those raising the issue at a Labour Parliamentary Party meeting tonight.

She said: “This is further, shocking evidence of the claims we have been making that the Leader’s office interferes with the complaints process.

“I am calling for an independent process where there cannot be interference.”

Speaking to Jewish News, Ellman also called for the release of the party’s response to the EHRC claims.

“It has caused huge concern, and I’ve had a lot of calls from other MPs since the publication,” she said.

“We have heard these things before but never been documented in such a way.”

This comes after Labour denied a damning report in the Sunday Times, which claimed the party “failed to take action against hundreds of members accused of antisemitism”.

A tweet sent by Labour Party’s press team dismissed the report as being “seriously misleading” and full of wrong figures, inaccurate claims and complete falsehoods.”

Ellman said: “They should immediately publish any evidence. Failing that, I see this as a panicked response to being exposed.”

“Time for ⁦‪@UKLabour‬⁩ to set up an independent complaints procedure to root the evil of antisemitism out, once and for all.

“@UKLabour should stop defending this, and release our response to the EHRC investigation. Our Jewish colleagues, members and voters deserve nothing less from the leadership.”

Stephen Kinnock, Labour MP for Aberavon, echoed calls by parliamentarians for an independent body to take over the complaints process and for the release of Labour’s response to the EHRC claims.

He added: “The cancer of antisemitism must be removed from the body of the Labour Party.

“If we fail again, then it could be terminal.”