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Keir Starmer under fire as Jeremy Corbyn readmitted to Labour Party

Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to withhold the whip from Jeremy Corbyn, who is pictured outside his home in London - Geoff Pugh
Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to withhold the whip from Jeremy Corbyn, who is pictured outside his home in London - Geoff Pugh

Sir Keir Starmer faced a mutiny from his own MPs on Tuesday night after Labour was accused of "adding insult to injury" by readmitting Jeremy Corbyn just three weeks after he was suspended from the party in a row over anti-Semitism.

Former leader Mr Corbyn had refused to apologise for playing down the scale of the problem in the party, and his readmittance sparked a major new row over anti-Semitism which threatens to undermine Sir Keir's pledge to clean up Labour.

Sir Keir is now under intense pressure to withhold the whip from Mr Corbyn after the party lifted his suspension and gave him a "slap on the wrist", and at least one MP has threatened to resign if the whip is restored.

On Tuesday night, Labour sources confirmed that Sir Keir had not yet made a decision on whether to reinstate the whip (watch him backing Mr Corbyn's suspension last month in the video below).

Jewish campaigners said they had been "conned" as the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council and the Community Security Trust warned that Labour had taken a "retrograde step" in its efforts to rebuild relations.

They said in a statement: "For Jeremy Corbyn's allies on the NEC to expedite his case whilst hundreds of other cases languished under his tenure, and his confected non-apology earlier, adds insult to injury."

Senior Labour MPs including Dame Margaret Hodge described the decision as "ridiculous".

Mr Corbyn, who has refused to apologise for downplaying the scale of anti-Semitism in Labour's ranks, was issued with a "reminder of conduct" letter – effectively a formal warning – by a five-person disciplinary panel of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee.

The panel was made up of three Labour moderates, Alice Perry, Gurinder Singh Josan and Wendy Nicols, and Ian Murray and Yasmin Dar, more associated with the hard left. They are understood to have taken a unanimous decision, despite some on the panel reportedly wanting stronger action to be taken.

It followed extensive discussions between Labour officials and senior Corbyn allies including the Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey.

Mr Corbyn had been suspended after saying the scale of anti-Semitism in Labour had been "dramatically overstated for political reasons".

His suspension came on the day that Labour was found to have unlawfully discriminated against Jewish members by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (watch him responding to the EHRC report in the video below).

The Jewish Labour Movement accused the party of allowing Mr Corbyn's fate to be decided by a "factionally aligned political committee".

It said: "It is extraordinary that just weeks after the EHRC found that the Labour Party had discriminated against Jewish members through political manipulation of the disciplinary process, it appears that the party expedited this case for hearing by a factionally aligned political committee.

"He has offered no apology for his total failure of leadership to tackle anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, or contrition for his role in allowing political manipulation of the disciplinary process by his own office in his name. Once again we find ourselves having to remind the Labour Party that Jeremy Corbyn is not the victim of Labour anti-Semitism – Jewish members are."

In a statement on Tuesday night, Sir Keir said: "I know that this has been another painful day for the Jewish community and those Labour members who have fought so hard to tackle anti-Semitism. I know the hurt that has been caused and the trauma people have felt.

"Jeremy Corbyn's statement in response to the EHRC report was wrong and completely distracted from a report that identified unlawful conduct in our tackling of racism within the Labour Party. This should shame us all. I will not allow a focus on one individual to prevent us from doing the vital work of tackling anti-Semitism."

The timeline to Jeremy Corbyn's suspension
The timeline to Jeremy Corbyn's suspension

Sir Keir was accused of showing "no leadership" as Mr Corbyn's suspension was branded a "stunt" to divert attention from the EHRC report.

Several Labour frontbenchers privately expressed disbelief at the decision to reinstate Mr Corbyn, saying it would shatter the newly-won trust of the Jewish community. Their fears proved well-founded as Karen Pollock, the chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said it sent an "appalling message".

"Zero tolerance either means zero tolerance or it's meaningless," she said. "The scathing report from the EHRC less than three weeks ago outlined a stream of racism and discrimination by the Labour Party on Jeremy Corbyn's watch.

"Yet here we are. Once again Corbyn has failed to take responsibility, and the Labour Party have let him off the hook."

Gideon Falter, the chief executive of the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, said: "By readmitting Mr Corbyn, the Labour Party has once again excused anti-Semitism and proved itself unwilling to address it. The Jewish community has been conned."

Dame Margaret, a veteran Jewish MP, said: "I simply cannot comprehend why it is acceptable for Corbyn to be a Labour MP if he thinks anti-Semitism is exaggerated and a political attack, refuses to apologise, never takes responsibility for his actions and rejects the findings of the EHRC report. Ridiculous."

Dame Margaret Hodge hit out at the decision to reinstate Mr Corbyn - Getty Images Europe
Dame Margaret Hodge hit out at the decision to reinstate Mr Corbyn - Getty Images Europe

Neil Coyle MP, a prominent critic of Mr Corbyn, suggested the equalities watchdog "may not be done" with the party in the wake of the former leader's readmittance.

"To those who feel as let down as I am seeing from some members today, I'd like to apologise," he added. "I didn't think I'd have to do that for the Labour Party after the EHRC report. I'm sorry we are yet to rebuild trust and regain support. I'm sorry Labour processes are not yet fixed."

While Labour insists its complaints processes are independent of its political leadership, the Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove claimed Sir Keir had demonstrated "weakness in the face of prejudice", adding: "Labour are not under new leadership – this decision shows no leadership."

Mr Corbyn said: "I am pleased to have been reinstated in the Labour Party and would like to thank party members, trade unionists and all who have offered solidarity.

"Our movement must now come together to oppose and defeat this deeply damaging Conservative Government."

On Wednesday night Thelma Walker, a former Labour MP and parliamentary private secretary to Mr McDonnell, said she had resigned her party membership in protest at Sir Keir's decision.

Mr McDonnell said: "When Thelma Walker, one of Labour's loyalest of the loyal, feels so strongly that she resigns then it's time voices like hers are listened to."