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Revealed: The lawyer at the centre of Starmer's efforts to tackle Labour's antisemtism problem
Alex Barros-Curtis had previously worked as Sir Keir’s head of compliance during his successful campaign to lead Labour.
June 29, 2020 16:29
Alex Barros-Curtis had previously worked as Sir Keir’s head of compliance during his successful campaign to lead Labour.
June 29, 2020 16:29This is the lawyer and former parliamentary assistant at the centre of Sir Keir Starmer’s efforts to tackle antisemitism in Labour.
Alex Barros-Curtis has spent that past two months in the role of Labour’s Acting Executive Director of Legal Affairs, overseeing the work of the party’s compliance unit – which has frequently been criticised for failing to act over complaints involving anti-Jewish racism.
Party insiders say Mr Barros-Curtis has also been at the centre of high-profile decisions to recommend the suspension of Labour members and councillors over recent weeks – including over complaints about antisemitism that had previously not been acted upon.
The marketing consultant had previously worked as Sir Keir’s head of compliance during his successful campaign to lead Labour.
But in his latest role, which is confirmed on his personal Linkedin page, Mr Barros-Curtis was handed the power to manage the existing disciplinary complaints team - many of whom were appointed under Jeremy Corbyn.
Thomas Gardiner, Labour's director of governance and legal affairs, told staff he was quitting the role last Friday. He told staff he had ''decided to move on'' to pursue new opportunities, having been criticised over previous decision relating to antisemtism cases.
The JC understands that Mr Barros-Curtis could now himself land a more permanent role with the party.
“Labour’s compliance unit is now being very closely managed,” a party source told the JC earlier this month.
“For anyone seeking to stay in their jobs it would not be sensible to disobey the new managers’ requests. The manager has also been given the power to step in and make decisions himself about cases if need be.”
According to the Companies House register, Mr Barros-Curtis was the sole director of Movement for Another Future Limited - which was the name linked to Sir Keir's website during his successful campaign to become leader in April.
Sir Keir also used the strapline “Another Future is Possible” throughout his campaign.
Prior to working on Sir Keir’s campaign, he had a role in Owen Smith’s failed 2016 leadership bid, in which he was a “trusted adviser to Mr Smith and the campaign’s chair and vice-chair in the campaign’s final weeks”.
Mr Barros-Curtis has worked more recently for The Good Campaigns Company - an agency helping non-profit organisations with marketing and branding campaigns.
On the company website he is said to have worked extensively on derivatives and structured finance matters in Europe and Hong Kong; as well as formerly working for the Clinton Foundation.
The website adds Mr Barros-Curtis has worked ''managing compliance, finance and strategy covers two Labour leadership campaigns, the Labour Campaign for the Single Market, and strategic consultancy on the UK’s Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. ''
On Monday Labour's new General Secretary David Evans began work in his new role at the party's headquarters.
In a message to party members he said ''we need to be a Party that is fully inclusive, trusted and representative of our country at every level. Making this happen is a key priority for me.''
Asked to comment on Mr Barros-Curtis and his role in the party Labour told the JC they do not discuss staffing issues.
