Mishcon de Reya has submitted a dossier to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on behalf of its client, the Jewish Labour Movement, regarding widespread antisemitism within the Labour Party.
Following the submission and work with former Labour Party staffers acting as whistleblowers, the EHRC has launched an investigation into whether unlawful acts have been committed by the Party or its members, and whether Labour reacted to complaints in a lawful and effective manner. Labour is only the second political party to be investigated this way, the other being the far-right British National Party (BNP).
Mishcon de Reya Executive Partner James Libson and Employment Partner Susannah Kintish are leading the case.
James featured on the Today Programme discussing the matter, as reported in the Evening Standard and elsewhere:
James Libson said the team has prepared 70 sworn testimonies from Labour party staffers past and present as part of evidence submitted to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s investigation into allegations of anti-Semitism in the party.
Mr Libson, when asked if Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s assertion that every case of anti-Semitism had been dealt with was incorrect, said: “Very much so,” adding: “There are many, many outstanding complaints, many examples of interference and many examples of double-standards in the way in which complaints are processed.”
Asked if there was evidence that the Labour leader’s office was “interfering” in the investigations process, Mr Libson said the evidence shows that: “There has been interference and that interference has unfortunately become institutional.
“Institutional in the sense that people affiliated with the leader’s office – and now in the actual unit that are investigating – and that at a more basic level, information is passing between the leader’s office and investigating unit.”
He added:
“Passed by USB sticks, by WhatsApp groups, secret WhatsApp groups.”
Related coverage:
The Times (subscription only)
The Guardian
The Express