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Starmer denies Corbyn the Labour whip despite lifting of suspension
‘I know that I will be judged on my actions, not my words’, says Labour leader
November 18, 2020 12:06
‘I know that I will be judged on my actions, not my words’, says Labour leader
November 18, 2020 12:06Jeremy Corbyn will not be able to return as Labour MP despite having his suspension from the party lifted.
Sir Keir Starmer confirmed on Wednesday he had made the decision not to restore the whip to the former leader, saying Mr Corbyn’s “actions in response to the EHRC report undermined and set back our work in restoring trust and confidence in the Labour Party’s ability to tackle antisemitism.”
The decision means Mr Corbyn will now sit as an independent MP.
In a statement that was openly critical of Labour’s current disciplinary procedures, Sir Keir tweeted:“Since I was elected Labour leader, I have made it my mission to root out antisemitism from the Labour Party. I know that I will judged on my actions, not my words.
“The disciplinary process does not have the confidence of the Jewish community. That became clear once again yesterday.
“It is the task of my leadership to fix what I have inherited. That is what I am resolute in doing and I have asked for an independent process to be established as soon as possible. I’m the Leader of the Labour Party, but I’m also the Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party.”
Responding immediately to the decision the Board of Deputies said:"We welcome Keir Starmer's decision to withhold the whip from Jeremy Corbyn... We continue to say that 'zero tolerance' must mean precisely that, whether for antisemites or their apologists."
A Labour NEC disciplinary panel lifted the suspension of Corbyn’s party membership on Monday.
The decision was made after he issued a conciliatory statement “clarifying” controversial remarks he made when the damning Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) report was published.
On Monday evening Jewish Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge threatened to quit the party in protest at the decision to reinstate Mr Corbyn to the party.
The Labour veteran, and parliamentary chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, wrote: “This is a broken outcome from a broken system.
“A factional, opaque and dysfunctional complaints process could never reach a fair conclusion. This is exactly why the EHRC instructed Labour to set up an independent process!”
Dame Margaret added: “I simply cannot comprehend why it is acceptable for Corbyn to be a Labour MP if he thinks antisemitism is exaggerated and a political attack, refuses to apologise, never takes responsibility for his actions & rejects the findings of the EHRC report. Ridiculous.”
On Wednesday, after the Labour leader's decision not to restore the whip to Mr Corbyn was confirmed, Dame Margaret appeared to confirm she would remain in the party.
The JC understands that BBC Newsnight staff later explained their decision to invite Jenny Manson of the Jewish Voice For Labour group on the show on Monday to discuss the situation with Mr Corbyn.
JLM were amongst those to complain that JVL did not represent the viewpoint of most Jews in this country – yet were repeatedly invited onto the BBC2 programme.
It was suggested that the group was contacted to represent the voice of the pro-Corbyn wing of the Labour Party when no other representatives can be found.
JVL supporters later claimed presenter Kirsty Wark had been too harsh with Ms Manson. But the BBC rejected their claims.
