Sir Keir Starmer today took the first steps of a “no ifs, no buts” battleplan to defeat the anti-Semitism scandal that swamped Labour under Jeremy Corbyn.
Writing in the Evening Standard , the new Labour leader pledged to fast-track every outstanding case where party members have been accused of hatred towards Jewish people and to deal with offenders “robustly and swiftly”.
Jewish community leaders will be invited to hold a training seminar on anti-Semitism attended by every member of party staff, to ensure the whole team is united in pledging to tackle the “cultural problem” infecting their ranks.
Sir Keir also confirmed he will throw open the party’s files to investigators from the independent Equality and Human Rights Commission and make any member of staff and any Labour politician available to be grilled.
“We must shine a light where we have failed, where we have made mistakes,” he wrote. This morning he met Jewish community groups to “pledge to tear out this poison by its roots”.
Promising zero-tolerance, Sir Keir wrote: “The principle of what I succeed to achieve is clear: if you are anti-Semitic, you cannot and should not be in the Labour Party. No ifs, no buts.”
Rooting out anti-Semitism is now seen as a litmus test of Sir Keir’s leadership. His first act after being elected with a decisive mandate on Saturday was to issue an apology to the Jewish community on behalf of the party.
Today’s talks will include members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Jewish Leadership Council and the Jewish Labour Movement.
Mr Corbyn’s approach was mired by allegations that his allies turned a blind eye to unacceptable conduct or comments made by the Left-winger’s political supporters.
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However, under pressure last year Labour said it had massively speeded up investigations, with a result that 96 members were suspended, 146 received warnings, and 211 were issued with a Notice of Investigation.
Sir Keir promised an immediate start this week to setting up a new independent complaints process.
