Labour NEC member refuses antisemitism cases until independent process in place

Gurinder Singh Josan said: Most cases dealt with have been in relation to antisemitism which are a source of great shame and regret

A moderate member of the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee has asked not to be considered for any more antisemitism panels until the independent process that leader Sir Keir Starmer promised was in place.

In a personal statement posted on social media on Wednesday, Gurinder Singh Josan said he had reached the end of his patience, having considered “hundreds” of cases since being elected to the party’s ruling body in April.

Josan said most of the cases were related to antisemitism – a “source of great shame and regret” – and that he had asked not to be considered for any more disputes panels until a new system had been set up.

“Since first being elected I have been part of 20 disputes panels and have considered hundreds of cases,” he wrote. “More has been done to deal with complaints and outstanding cases since April than in previous years.

“The vast majority of cases dealt with have been in relation to antisemitism. Whilst this progress is an important achievement for the Party, I find it also a source of great shame and regret.

PERSONAL STATEMENT

It has been published by others that I was a member of the Labour Party Disputes Panel that yesterday considered the case of Jeremy Corbyn.

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— Gurinder Singh Josan CBE MP (@gsjosan) November 18, 2020

“I have today written to the General Secretary informing him that I shall forthwith not be volunteering to be part of any further disputes panels until concerns I have raised have been fully addressed.”

He added that he hoped that the Party “expedite a fully independent complaints process and in the meantime take the opportunity to fundamentally review the administration of complaints and disputes”.

It was reported he was part of the 5 person panel that decided the case. Contrary to some suggestions, the decision is believed not to have been unanimous.

Corbyn’s suspension of Labour Party membership was lifted by an NEC panel this week but Starmer refused to reinstate the whip, meaning that he will continue to sit in the House of Commons as an Independent MP. Corbyn’s allies have called it a vindictive move but Jewish groups said it was the right decision.