New figures confirm huge increase in Labour expulsions under Starmer
Party figures confirm 274 expulsions, 10 for criminal offences, since last March - with 81 booted out for support of banned groups downplaying antisemitism
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Labour has expelled 274 members since Sir Keir Starmer became leader – including 81 found to have been supporting banned organisations accused of downplaying or denying antisemitism.
Figures made available by the party’s national executive committee (NEC) confirmed that 10 of those were expelled with criminal offences.
A further 252 members are currently suspended by the party over investigations into allegations of misconduct -including anti-Jewish racism claims.
This represents a huge increase in expulsions by the party compared to figures released under previous leader Jeremy Corbyn.
In February 2019, the party said it had looked into 673 alleged antisemitism cases since April the previous year – expelling just 12 members.
The news figures also showed that party membership estimates from March 2020 up until the end of last year showed approximately 150,000 members had left.
Many of these had joined the party under Corbyn, when the party’s membership exceeded 500, 000.
Labour’s shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said on Thursday the high number of activists leaving the party should not be seen only as a negative.
She told the FT people had left the party who had “never shared our values.”
Reeves also argued unwelcome members needed to be ousted to help remove the “stain” of antisemitism.
Last July Labour proscribed organisations such as Labour Against The Witch-hunt and the Labour In Exile Network in an attempt to tackle the antisemitism issue in particular.
Members shown to be supporting four banned groups faced claims they had denied or downplayed antisemitism in the party.
The latest NEC figures have sparked anger amongst some Corbyn allies, who claim they are the target of an orchestrated “purge” by the new leadership.
In October 2020, the EHRC published its report into Corbyn’s handling of the issue finding that the party was “responsible for unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination”.
The EHRC found that there were 23 instances of political interference by staff from the leader’s office and others and that Labour had breached the Equality Act in two cases.
A BBC Panorama episode including claims allies of Corbyn had protected individuals facing allegations of antisemitism.
Corbyn is still suspended as a Labour MP for his claim on the day the report was released that anti-Jewish was exaggerated by political opponents.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
