Jeremy Corbyn has said the decision by Labour to settle a claim with the BBC Panorama antisemitism whistle-blowers was a “political decision, not a legal one”.

Meanwhile Len McCluskey, the General Secretary of the Unite union,  claimed the “settlement is a misuse of Labour Party funds to settle a case it was advised we would win in court.”

The remarks came after a High Court ruling on Wednesday that the party he used to lead, must pay “substantial damages” to seven whistle-blowers who contributed to a TV expose of its handling of antisemitism.

In a statement the former Labour leader said:” “The party’s decision to apologise today and make substantial payments to former staff who sued the party in relation to last year’s Panorama programme is a political decision, not a legal one.

“Our legal advice was that the party had a strong defence, and the evidence in the leaked Labour report that is now the subject of an NEC inquiry led by Martin Forde QC strengthened concerns about the role played by some of those who took part in the programme.

“The decision to settle these claims in this way is disappointing, and risks giving credibility to misleading and inaccurate allegations about action taken to tackle anti-Semitism in the Labour Party in recent years.

“To give our members the answers and justice they deserve, the inquiry led by Martin Forde must now fully address the evidence the internal report uncovered of racism, sexism, factionalism and obstruction of Labour’s 2017 general election campaign.”

Meanwhile Mr  McCluskey said: “Today’s settlement is a misuse of Labour Party funds to settle a case it was advised we would win in court.”