“Sorry seems to be the hardest word”
Elton John
Just imagine you were the head of an organisation and that certain behaviours in that organisation had caused such concern, an independent external regulator with statutory powers was called in to investigate. If, at the end of that investigation, they produce a report which finds those concerns to be fully justified, what, as head of that organisation, would you do? Resign? Probably. Accept responsibility, apologise and promise corrective action? Certainly.
Quite simply, that is the situation Jeremy Corbyn found himself in when the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) served the Labour Party with an unlawful act notice stating in their report they had found evidence of “unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination for which the Labour Party is responsible” and “serious failings in leadership and an inadequate process for handling antisemitism complaints”.
The EHRC concluded the Party was responsible for three breaches of the Equality Act 2010 relating to:
Political interference in antisemitism complaints
Failure to provide adequate training to those handling antisemitism complaints
Harassment
At an individual member level, this behaviour has caused great distress to members from the Jewish community. For me personally, I have been in and around the Labour Party since 1964 and this was the first occasion that I can recall where antisemitism had been a problem within the Party. To the contrary, Labour has been a safe place for Jewish people to participate in politics.
At a Party level the whole experience is a mighty and shameful embarrassment. It was Labour who established what is now the EHRC and the Equality Act came at the end of Gordon Brown’s period as Prime Minister. The Party has a long and proud record of fighting against hate, division and discrimination.
Jeremy Corbyn was Leader for the period covered by the Report. His obvious response should have been threefold: an acceptable of responsibility, an apology for hurt and distress caused and (given he is no longer Leader) a commitment to work with the new leadership in implementing the EHRC calls for.
Instead Corbyn took to Facebook to issue a statement suggesting the Report had exaggerated the problem. What followed is best suited to a television political drama which resulted in Corbyn being suspended from the Party, then reinstated but not readmitted to the Parliamentary Labour Party. Corbyn still enjoys considerable support both in the wider Party and among MPs. A reinstatement campaign has been established and the saga trundles on. Meanwhile the National Executive Committee has moved ahead with preparing the action plan demanded by the EHRC.
The 12th December marks a year since Jeremy Corbyn led the Party to its worse General Election defeat since 1935. Since then, Keir Starmer has worked a minor miracle in closing the gap with the Tories and the Party now finds itself 20 points better off and sitting at level pegging with the Tories. A year ago, voters sent the clear message they did not want Corbyn to be Prime Minister, but polls now tell us the majority of voters think Starmer is doing a better job than Johnson.
The next General Election could be as many as four years away, but I doubt any Labour strategist is anything but delighted with the progress the Party has made in a year. There is much more to do and further to travel but an excellent start has been made. Corbyn and his supporters may not think much of Keir Starmer, but voters do and that is much more important.
So the last thing Labour needs is voters to be reminded of Corbyn’s stewardship by him challenging the findings of the EHRC report with his supporters cheering him on. We want Labour’s image to be formed in voters’ minds by efficient and effective TV appearances by Starmer and the likes of Rachel Reeves, Ed Milliband and Lisa Nandy. We don’t want Corbyn and his former woeful Shadow Cabinet members reminding voters of his toxic leadership. We don’t want Corbyn on the airways reminding progressives of his infamous tweet of 29th October 2019 stating, “no deal is now off the table so tonight Labour will back a General Election”. What a misjudgement that turned out to be.
If Corbyn truly has the interests of the Labour Party at heart, wishes to re-join the PLP and do his bit to deliver Keir Starmer to Downing Street in 4 years’ time, the action he should take is obvious. An apology, an acceptance of responsibility and a commitment to righting the wrongs.
If he fails to do it, this only raises questions as to his true motives and what his attitude really is towards the Party he has represented in Parliament since 1983.
So come on, Jeremy, you know you can do the right thing!
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