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New Labour shadow minister condemned for sharing unredacted version of antisemitism report
Lloyd Russell-Moyle was among those to post a link to an unredacted version of the 860-page document
April 14, 2020 11:51
Lloyd Russell-Moyle was among those to post a link to an unredacted version of the 860-page document
April 14, 2020 11:51A new member of Labour's shadow cabinet is facing calls to resign after he was revealed to have circulated online the leaked party report into its handling of antisemitism cases without redacting those named within it.
MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle was among those to post a link to an unredacted version of the 860-page document, which supporters of Jeremy Corbyn have promoted to discredit party officials who opposed him.
Mr Russell-Moyle, who was appointed for Shadow Minister for Natural Environment and Air Quality by new leader Sir Keir Starmer last week, initially appeared to justify his decision to post a link to the report on a closed Facebook group – before publishing a retraction after saying he had been contacted by a "respected colleague".
The document, which was first leaked to Sky News for a report on Sunday, contains the details of hundreds of whistle-blowers on antisemitism.
But after it also circulated among pro-Corbyn supporters and news websites it was widely circulated across the internet by Monday.
Some campaigners, including members of the Jewish Labour Movement, have said their names have appeared on Neo-Nazi websites sinced the report was leaked.
On Tuesday, a legal source told the JC: "It is astonishing that a Shadow Minister should think it proper to publishand then double down on his public attack, advising people that what he did was permissible, before retracting his comments.
"Locking the stable door after so many horses have bolted must be a resigning matter."
On Twitter, Mr Russell-Moyle wrote on Monday evening: "After speaking to a respected colleague I wanted to make it clear that the report that has been leaked contains important information but it also contains the personal details of minors and those who deserve confidentiality after they made complaints.
"Many people shared link to unredacted report: this is wrong. On a closed group I commented my thoughts after link was posted in group hours before.
"In doing so I reposted link. This was wrong, I've deleted and apologise. Report should be redacted independent enquiry conducted."
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and his deputy Angela Rayner said on Monday that an independent investigation would examine the leaking of the document, as well as its contents including the “wider culture and practices” it refers to and the “background and circumstances in which the report was commissioned and the process involved”.