Panorama journalist John Ware planning to sue Jeremy Corbyn

The journalist behind BBC Panorama’s on Labour’s antisemitism row is planning to sue Jeremy Corbyn for libel.

This comes after the party agreed to pay documentary-maker John Ware “substantial damages”, over comments made in the wake of the Is Labour Anti-Semitic? programme aired last year.

Labour falsely accused Ware of “deliberate and malicious misrepresentations designed to mislead the public” regarding the show.

Media lawyer Mark Lewis told Jewish News: “I can confirm that I have been instructed to pursue claims.”

On Wednesday, seven former employees from the party’s governance and legal unit won a legal battle with Labour, after the party accused them of having “personal and political axes to grind”. It apologised for “untrue and defamatory” claims made. 

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Following the decision, Corbyn said it was “disappointing” the party had settled the claim, adding that it was a “political decision, not a legal one”.

He, and Len McCluskey, head of the Unite union, condemned the announcement, and pointed to a leaked report which detailed the factional splits.

McCluskey said the settlement was a “misuse of Labour Party funds to settle a case it was advised we would win in court”.

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