Tom Watson tells Labour colleagues he will ‘monitor’ all antisemitism cases

Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson told Labour colleagues today his team will “log and monitor” all complaints of antisemitism in the party.

In an email sent to Labour MPs and peers on Monday, Watson asked for all complaints of antisemitic abuse from within the party raised to general secretary Jennie Formby to also be shared with him, as first reported by The Times’ Henry Zeffman.

The email, since confirmed to Jewish News by Tom Watson’s team, reads: “From now on my team will be monitoring and logging all complaints. In order to properly assess and monitor the scale of the problem, I would like to see any issue or complaint you raise with the general secretary.

“I will ensure that this information is shared with both Jeremy, the Shadow Cabinet and colleagues on the National Executive Committee.”

The email also says: “I requested that the general secretary improve procedures by appointing a named member of staff that could be a point of contact for colleagues to raise cases and be updated on progress.

“Jennie Formby was very clear that she sees it as her responsibility to be your point of contact.”

Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl said:  “It is tragic that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has felt the need to personally push for greater transparency in Labour’s complaints process for antisemitism, racism and bullying – including that suffered by the party’s MPs.

“The fact that Tom Watson has felt the need to do this himself is a sad commentary on the fact that the Labour leadership that has so far failed to take satisfactory action against a culture of antisemitism and bullying in the party.

“This noxious behaviour is so rife within Labour that it is leading to the resignations of MPs, councillors and other members. What will it take for Jeremy Corbyn to act?”