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Labour whistleblowers say they "could not stay silent"
Statement on behalf of the seven whistleblowers speaks of the “vicious and defamatory attack on our motives and characters"
July 22, 2020 10:46
Statement on behalf of the seven whistleblowers speaks of the “vicious and defamatory attack on our motives and characters"
July 22, 2020 10:46One of the seven BBC Panorama whistleblowers has told how the group decided they “could not stay silent when we saw antisemitism permeate all levels of the Labour Party.”
In a statement read outside London’s High Court on Wednesday on behalf of the group, Martha Robinson said it would “take time to repair the damage” on their reputations as a result of the attacks mounted on them by the party after Panorama was aired last July.
Ms Robinson said: “After many years of loyal service, we simply could not stay silent when we saw antisemitism permeate all levels of the Labour Party.
“As staff, we tried our best to tackle this issue but, in the end, we had no choice but to blow the whistle in public and make sworn statements to the EHRC.
“Just over a year ago, we blew the whistle on Labour's antisemitism problem on BBC Panorama. We were pleased to work with a journalist of such high repute as John Ware to bring this story into public view.”
She said that in response to the programme, Labour launched a “vicious and defamatory attack on our motives and characters. “
Ms Robinson added: “Today, the Labour Party accepted that their comments were untrue and have unreservedly apologised for them.
“We are pleased that our reputations have been restored although it will take time to repair the damage caused by their unfounded attacks.”
The former Labour staffer say the whistle-blowers were “glad that Keir Starmer is showing the leadership which is so desperately needed to bring this chapter to a close, but it is not the end of the story.
“We hope he and others can finally eradicate the blight of anti-Jewish racism from the Labour Party. We are willing to help him do so.”