Voice Of The Jewish News: Our debt to courageous whistleblowers
This week's editorial reflects on the impact of Wednesday evening's BBC Panorama investigation into Labour antisemitism.
As expected, the eight former Labour staffers who courageously spoke to this week’s BBC Panorama programme of their experience in dealing with antisemitism complaints have already been sneeringly dismissed by the party they fled.
Labour says these former staff harbour grudges and are simply “disaffected and disgruntled”. In one case, where an ex-staffer, Michael Creighton, said he had been laughed at by communications director Seamus Milne, a spokesman said: “The Labour Party dispute this conversation ever took place… this allegation is false and malicious.”
Mr Creighton and the other brave whistleblowers, one who had a nervous breakdown, another who seriously considered suicide, had no reason to make anything up.
Get The Jewish News Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up
The shocking evidence on show in the Panorama programme is a public service, nothing less.
These officials should be applauded, not condemned. The only element about this that’s “false and malicious” is Labour’s wicked refusal to tackle antisemitism in the party without engaging in a welter of morally-repugnant “yesbutery” and “whataboutery”.
Put mildly, this has not been a good week for Labour. Gone are Lord Triesman, Lord Turnberg and Lord Darzi, and gone too is the pretence that there was no political interference in the disciplinary process surrounding its antisemitism cases.
Not gone are the Equality and Human Rights Council investigation and Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, whose closest aides now have questions to answer, having been shown gently caressing a supposedly independent process.
Gone is the pretence that there was no political interference in the disciplinary process surrounding its antisemitism cases.
How many slaps on the wrist, we are left wondering after Wednesday’s Panorama, would in fact have been goodbye waves had the likes of Seamus Milne and Jennie Formby not elbowed their way into the process in the way they did?
While there may no longer be hope, there remains a very clear way forward for those in Labour who still wish to show that they are on top of the problem. One element was suggested this week by former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown and seconded by Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer.
That is to change the Labour rule-book so that in cases of clear and blatant antisemitism, members are expelled immediately – not in three years’ time, after two hearings, much upset and mountains of legal letters.
The Panorama investigation revealed only 15 people have been expelled from the party for Jew hate in almost four years. Fifteen.
If Labour can expel people like Alistair Campbell within milliseconds of saying he voted Lib Dem, why dilly-dally with diehard racists?
Such a change would not rid Labour’s processes of their innate fairness – if they would they would not have been suggested by Starmer, who is a former Director of Public Prosecutions and the Head of the Crown Prosecution Service. And they would not condemn innocents to expulsion at the whim of the biased.
Rather they would rid a supposedly anti-racist party of racists.
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.
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)