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Labour handed initial findings of anti-Semitism inquiry by Britain's equalities watchdog

Jeremy Corbyn and Sir Keir Starmer
Jeremy Corbyn and Sir Keir Starmer

A report into Labour's handling of anti-Semitism has been submitted to the party by Britain's equality watchdog, as Jewish campaigners urged Sir Keir Starmer to act on its findings.

More than 12 months after launching a statutory inquiry into whether the party acted unlawfully in dealing with complaints, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has handed Labour a draft version of its report.

While Labour has refused to comment on its contents, the report will address allegations that the party under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership failed to tackle anti-Semitism within its ranks.

It is also likely to single out leadership figures and senior officials over their role in the crisis, which overshadowed much of Mr Corbyn’s tenure as leader.

In a statement released on Monday, the Labour Party said: “Antisemitism has been a stain on the Labour Party in recent years.

“It has caused unacceptable and unimaginable levels of grief and distress for many in the Jewish community, as well as members of staff.

"Tackling anti-Semitism within the Labour Party is a priority and we are determined to take the further action necessary to begin restoring trust with the Jewish community.

"We are committed to cooperating fully with the commission's investigation and implementing its recommendations when the final report is published."

Labour will now have 28 days to respond to the draft report, before the EHRC publishes a final version, now not expected until the Autumn.

Individuals singled out in the report will also be contacted in order to respond to its findings.

The inquiry comes almost two years after the charity the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism (CAA) formally referred Labour to the watchdog over allegations of “institutional anti-Semitism.”

Gideon Falter, chief executive of the CAA, claimed that under Mr Corbyn’s leadership the party “became institutionally anti-Semitic,” adding that it “must be forever changed after this episode so this can never happen again.

“Those responsible remain in the Party and must be held to account if Sir Keir Starmer is to tear antisemitism ‘out by its roots’, as he has promised,” he continued.

“The EHRC's report is a pivotal moment in this corrective process.”

His comments were echoed by the Jewish Labour Movement, which said: “We hope that when it is published, it will provide the kind of impartial and independent scrutiny required to force the party to comply with its duties under the Equality Act and toward our members.”