The Labour Party fears it could face hundreds of legal claims related to complaints of antisemitism, the Telegraph has reported.
It has warned that if it lost a claim brought by nine whistleblowers which is currently before the courts, this could “open the floodgates” to many more.
Labour is contesting claims that are connected with the 2020 Equalities and Human Rights Commission report which was critical of the party’s handling of antisemitism complaints under then leader Jeremy Corbyn,
The party had compiled an 850-page document to submit in its defence to the commission but in the event, this was never sent.
However, the document was subsequently leaked, exposing the personal details of hundreds of people.
According to the Telegraph, Labour is arguing that the party itself should not be held responsible for the leak. Instead, it has filed a counterclaim against five former staff members who it alleges were to blame for the document surfacing.
The paper said that at a hearing last week, Labour’s counsel warned that if the claims of the nine whistleblowers were to succeed, it could “lift the liability lid”, resulting potentially in claims by 380 people.
A further 23 claims had already been issued, the barrister was said to have told the court.
Labour was facing a bill of up to £5 million if it lost claims relating to antisemitism allegations, the Telegraph has previously reported.
The Labour Party was approached for comment.
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