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1/ People wonder why Labour is being accused of institutional antisemitism
Let's look at the last 10 days or so - merely a snapshot
Let's look at the last 10 days or so - merely a snapshot
2/ John McDonnell, Shadow Chancellor, speaks nice general words in a radio interview about antisemitism - in public, when Labour is temporarily under pressure because of questions being posed by MPs about progress lbc.co.uk/radio/presente…
3/ A few days later, not so nice words about a no confidence motion against an outspoken Jewish MP. Says that if she doesn't want to face no confidence motions, she should pledge loyalty (anyone wonder why she might not be feeling so loyal?) theguardian.com/politics/2019/…
4/ In the meantime, Jennie Formby, General Secretary of the party and person in charge of disciplinary process, flat out refuses to give any figures or detail about progress over education or discipline newstatesman.com/labour-anti-se…
5/ Then, he of the nice and slightly less nice words, John McDonnell attends a conference of a Labour faction, of which he is, honorary president, and in a private speech defends Jackie Walker, who is suspended and whose case is still not resolved jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/mcdonnell-told… 
6/ "take up" her case with Jeremy Corbyn. What does JM except Corbyn can do in a supposedly independent process?
As can be seen again and again, there appear to be different rules for allies of the leadership when facing allegations of antisemitism.
How do we know this?
As can be seen again and again, there appear to be different rules for allies of the leadership when facing allegations of antisemitism.
How do we know this?
7/ There is plenty of evidence but you can't get much more of a primary source than one of the 11 people who sat on Labour's top disciplinary committee, which makes final decisions on antisemitism cases thetimes.co.uk/article/labour…
8/ Meanwhile, the barrister who is meant to act as an independent advisor (I have no reason to doubt his professional integrity) is a close political ally of McDonnell and is apparently close to people who have been suspended or expelled for antisemitism thejc.com/news/uk-news/g…
9/ How can an organisation whose leadership blows hot and cold on antisemitism, and whose processes remain opaque, biased and dysfunctional, maintain its problem is not institutional?
10/ What is institutional racism?
The Macpherson report described it as the “collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture, or ethnic origin”.
The Macpherson report described it as the “collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture, or ethnic origin”.
11/ The genius of the concept is that it recognises organisations needn’t be full of obvious racists for a discriminatory culture to develop, as racism can also be...
12/ “seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping”.
13/ And it isn’t static. As Macpherson recognised, institutional racism “persists because of the failure of the organisation openly and adequately to recognise and address its existence and causes by policy, example and leadership”.
14/ Policy, example and leadership.
Open and adequate recognition of the problem.
You can read the 11 questions which Jennie Formby refused to answer in this thread.
Open and adequate recognition of the problem.
You can read the 11 questions which Jennie Formby refused to answer in this thread.
Sorry, the tweet /2 link didn't work. This is the one lbc.co.uk/radio/presente…
15/ Of course this is just a snapshot. Labour's institutional problem needs, in Macpherson's words, "policy, example and leadership". It has failed on each, which is why the problem simply won't go away and at some point someone will need to account for it
16/ I just don't even know what to make of this. Two people behind the motions against Luciana Berger are mates of John McDonnell and Emily Thornberry. telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/…
17/ And Jennie Formby gave the CLP an instant (and unjustified) letting off. Institutional problem much?
18/ Here is John McDonnell's response to the story about him defending Jackie Walker. To be fair to him, I can see why he would respond that the abuse is terrible, I'm sure Jackie Walker gets ugly abuse
19/ I just find it difficult to take McDonnell seriously. He was at a conference with Jackie Walker, whilst she's suspended and awaiting potential expulsion. She is co-chair of Labour Against the Witch Hunt, a dodgy denial org
20/ The conference he was at is the Labour Representation Committee, which he is honorary president of and affiliates with Labour Against the Witch Hunt. Jackie Walker herself travels the country performing a play called "The Lynching" about her experiences being suspended...
21/ McDonnell is also supporting Jennie Manson - the founder of Jewish Voice for Labour, which was set up to minimise allegations of antisemitism - in an attempt to run for parliament
21/ More on JVL thejc.com/news/news-feat…
They are hugely problematic. Far left Jews are entitled to a voice in the party, but McDonnell's open support for them demonstrates how deep into the ecosystem of denial he is
They are hugely problematic. Far left Jews are entitled to a voice in the party, but McDonnell's open support for them demonstrates how deep into the ecosystem of denial he is
21/ And of course when Luciana Berger was targeted - it seems by at least one of his friends - he didn't say "that's terrible I'll take it up with Jeremy", he said well maybe Luciana should be more loyal.
Three of these I'm afraid🤔🤔🤔
Three of these I'm afraid🤔🤔🤔
22/ Oh.
The *chair*
Of the Constituency Labour Party that tried to deselect Luciana Berger
These aren't peripheral racists, they are right there in the centre
The chair!
The *chair*
Of the Constituency Labour Party that tried to deselect Luciana Berger
These aren't peripheral racists, they are right there in the centre
The chair!
23/ Here's a Labour MP on that (it's a subtweet but I assume it's about Wavertree)
24/ It’s obviously no coincidence that @PeoplesMomentum are going after lizard antisemitiic conspiracist David Icke - it’s because he has become
a real, pernicious influence in the Labour movement
a real, pernicious influence in the Labour movement
@PeoplesMomentum 25/ Let's talk about victimisation.
Victimisation is a legal term (legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/…) which means someone is treated less well because they have complained about discrimination.
A clear sign of institutional discrimination is when institutional power is used in this way
Victimisation is a legal term (legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/…) which means someone is treated less well because they have complained about discrimination.
A clear sign of institutional discrimination is when institutional power is used in this way
26/ Berger's is not the first case of an MP being attacked because they have raised issues about antisemitism.
In July, two MPs, @margarethodge and @IanAustinMP, accused Jeremy Corbyn of racism and antisemitism. Labour instantly launched disciplinary proceedings against both
In July, two MPs, @margarethodge and @IanAustinMP, accused Jeremy Corbyn of racism and antisemitism. Labour instantly launched disciplinary proceedings against both
27/ 3 weeks later, proceedings against Hodge were dropped (theguardian.com/politics/2018/…)
Amazingly, it took 3 months for the proceedings against Austin to be dropped (politicshome.com/news/uk/politi…)
Plainly, there was nothing in these charges otherwise the party wouldn't have dropped them
Amazingly, it took 3 months for the proceedings against Austin to be dropped (politicshome.com/news/uk/politi…)
Plainly, there was nothing in these charges otherwise the party wouldn't have dropped them
28/ If you are looking for evidence of institutional antisemitism, it doesn't get any clearer than 2 high profile critics being disciplined.
That's victimisation plain and simple.
And the excuse that Hodge swore at Corbyn cannot stand as the case was dropped.
That's victimisation plain and simple.
And the excuse that Hodge swore at Corbyn cannot stand as the case was dropped.
29/ Let's talk about disciplinary processes.
For an institution to properly handle complaints of discrimination it must have an effective grievance and disciplinary process.
That applies to political parties as much as it does to the workplace
For an institution to properly handle complaints of discrimination it must have an effective grievance and disciplinary process.
That applies to political parties as much as it does to the workplace
30/ Labour’s processes are a mess.
Ineffective, opaque, poorly resourced, undermined by political interference.
The Home Affairs Committee said in its 2016 report on antisemitism that Labour must “address a severe lack of transparency within the Party’s disciplinary process”.
Ineffective, opaque, poorly resourced, undermined by political interference.
The Home Affairs Committee said in its 2016 report on antisemitism that Labour must “address a severe lack of transparency within the Party’s disciplinary process”.
31/ Shami Chakrabarti, who produced an internal Labour report in the same year, made a number of recommendations in relation to internal processes.
Almost none have been taken up
Almost none have been taken up
32/ ... despite Jeremy Corbyn saying almost a year ago that the “full” implantation of the report was “overdue"
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politi…
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politi…
33/ Meanwhile, Labour’s processes have been stacked with people who make a joke of the idea of any claims to impartiality.
Let's meet a few of them
Let's meet a few of them
34/ The NEC is Labour's key decision making body labour.org.uk/about/how-we-w…
Peter Willsman, NEC member, was recorded saying of 68 rabbis that he was“not going to be lectured to by Trump fanatics making up duff information without any evidence at all”
theguardian.com/politics/2018/…
Peter Willsman, NEC member, was recorded saying of 68 rabbis that he was“not going to be lectured to by Trump fanatics making up duff information without any evidence at all”
theguardian.com/politics/2018/…
35/ Stephen Marks is on National Constitution Committee, a panel of 11 people which finally determines antisemitism complaints.
He referred to some complaints as “imagined”.
There is "nothing Jeremy can do that will ever satisfy people who come up with this stuff"
He referred to some complaints as “imagined”.
There is "nothing Jeremy can do that will ever satisfy people who come up with this stuff"
36/ Here's more on Stephen Marks. Also JVL
People are entitled to their views but imagine if you were bringing a sex discrimination complaint at work and you knew that one of the people who would finally determine it had made these kind of comments
People are entitled to their views but imagine if you were bringing a sex discrimination complaint at work and you knew that one of the people who would finally determine it had made these kind of comments
37/ Then there was Christine Shawcroft, *chair* of the NEC’s Disputes Panel
The Chair of the whole thing
She resigned after a newspaper expose showing that she opposed the suspension of a council candidate who posted a range of antisemitic material on Facebook.
The Chair of the whole thing
She resigned after a newspaper expose showing that she opposed the suspension of a council candidate who posted a range of antisemitic material on Facebook.
38/ This including an article entitled “International Red Cross Report Confirms the Holocaust of Six Million Jews is a Hoax” with the sign to Auschwitz replaced with phrase “Muh Holocaust”.
39/ Shawcroft sent an email , copying senior Labour figures, calling for Bull to be reinstated as the Facebook post had been “taken completely out of context and alleged to show anti-Semitism"
40/ When resigning from the Dispute’s Panel, Shawcroft posted on Facebook that she had not seen the “abhorrent post which was shared” and that the “whole row is being stirred up to attack Jeremy, as we all know”.
theguardian.com/politics/2018/…
theguardian.com/politics/2018/…
41/ Shawcroft's case highlights recurring dynamics:
- Senior figure caught attempting to minimise antisemitism and manipulate processes. Bang to rights.
- Denies wrongdoing, shows no insight whatsoever, goes down fighting
- People still defend her and Alan Ball to this day
- Senior figure caught attempting to minimise antisemitism and manipulate processes. Bang to rights.
- Denies wrongdoing, shows no insight whatsoever, goes down fighting
- People still defend her and Alan Ball to this day
42/ Failure to take responsibility or show insight is a classic sign of institutional racism.
Macpherson: "It persists because of the failure of the organisation openly and adequately to recognise and address its existence and causes by policy, example and leadership"
Macpherson: "It persists because of the failure of the organisation openly and adequately to recognise and address its existence and causes by policy, example and leadership"
43/ Also Macpherson (6.17):
"such attitudes can thrive in a tightly knit community, so that there can be a collective failure to detect and to outlaw this breed of racism."
The report is here - chap 6 is the key one assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…
"such attitudes can thrive in a tightly knit community, so that there can be a collective failure to detect and to outlaw this breed of racism."
The report is here - chap 6 is the key one assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…
44/ This by @DAaronovitch is excellent on why Jennie Formby should not be believed or trusted on current evidence
Good on what a proper and good faith institutional response would *actually look like* (compare what we actually see happening) thejc.com/comment/column…
Good on what a proper and good faith institutional response would *actually look like* (compare what we actually see happening) thejc.com/comment/column…
@DAaronovitch 45/ Here is the latest from Jennie Formby who, despite very significant efforts to avoid having to do so (she first suggested that 3 PLP members privately viewed figures), has published some figures
46/ I'm glad that there are some v basic figures:
- We don't know if investigations are being conducted properly without political interference
- Good to hear that the NCC is a "quasi judicial body" but what about the filter to the NCC, where the vast majority of cases fall away?
- We don't know if investigations are being conducted properly without political interference
- Good to hear that the NCC is a "quasi judicial body" but what about the filter to the NCC, where the vast majority of cases fall away?
47/ - There is still deflection in the tone, e.g. "many of the complaints relate to social media posts that are up to 8 years old". This tweet is "up to 8 years old"!
- 673 complaints were about party members, but that total figure has clearly been deleted! Pathetic really.
- 673 complaints were about party members, but that total figure has clearly been deleted! Pathetic really.
48/ - Of 42 cases which were referred to the NCC (the top decision making body) only 18 have been resolved. So less than 50%.
- And we really don't know how good the filtering system is. No idea. This is where the political interference (see above) can come in
- And we really don't know how good the filtering system is. No idea. This is where the political interference (see above) can come in
49/ Then there is this little nugget...
50/ I know this is the Daily Mail but it fits with what I have heard from v good sources, that many people - pretty much the whole compliance unit - left. dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6…
51/ Let's talk about organisational culture.
I have focussed on fair processes - important. But as anyone who has worked in an org/company knows, it can have the best processes but terrible culture.
I think Labour has developed a poor culture which disadvantages Jewish people
I have focussed on fair processes - important. But as anyone who has worked in an org/company knows, it can have the best processes but terrible culture.
I think Labour has developed a poor culture which disadvantages Jewish people
52/ I acted in the Mid Staffs inquiry into how the NHS systems had broken down so badly that a hospital had failed (webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20150407085001…)
Sir Robert Frances was v interested in organisational culture. There are parallels here.
Sir Robert Frances was v interested in organisational culture. There are parallels here.
53/ One of the features of antisemitism is that it manifests in conspiracy theories about Jews.
This means an institution must be careful to treat complaints sensitively and at face value.
This means an institution must be careful to treat complaints sensitively and at face value.
54/ It should follow the Macpherson definition of a racist incident as “any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person”
And treat that as the starting point for an effective investigation
And treat that as the starting point for an effective investigation
55/ As Macpherson pointed out, an organisation which fails to recognise its own problems can end up causing further racism, even if that isn’t intended.
This is what has happened in the Labour Party
This is what has happened in the Labour Party
56/ A strong culture of *denial* and *victimisation* has developed.
Dianne Abbot has said it is “a smear to say that Labour has a problem with antisemitism”. theguardian.com/politics/2016/…
Dianne Abbot has said it is “a smear to say that Labour has a problem with antisemitism”. theguardian.com/politics/2016/…
57/ Chris Williamson has said “antisemitism smears” are a “dirty, lowdown trick”
There's plenty more with him, but the point isn't that he's on the extreme denial side, but that he seems to be tolerated and never faces consequences
That's culture.
politicshome.com/news/uk/social…
There's plenty more with him, but the point isn't that he's on the extreme denial side, but that he seems to be tolerated and never faces consequences
That's culture.
politicshome.com/news/uk/social…
58/ Anyone who spends time on social media will have seen how victims of antisemitism are disbelieved and attacked.
A ecosystem of victimisation has developed, from hugely popular Facebook groups to the ’alt left’ media such as Sqwawkbox and The Canary
A ecosystem of victimisation has developed, from hugely popular Facebook groups to the ’alt left’ media such as Sqwawkbox and The Canary
59/ Not obvious how to place Sqwawkbox/Canary etc as they aren't part of the party but they seem closely linked to the leadership
Some of the stuff they publish is outrageous victimisation and conspiracism
An org with a positive anti-racism culture would disown them instantly
Some of the stuff they publish is outrageous victimisation and conspiracism
An org with a positive anti-racism culture would disown them instantly
60/ e.g. How Sqwawkbox has pushed the Luciana Berger escort truther movement, which Corbyn himself has implicitly endorsed
In the party of Jo Cox it's just unbelievable. I find it the most depressing single example of this entire affair
In the party of Jo Cox it's just unbelievable. I find it the most depressing single example of this entire affair
61/ And what the Berger deselection incident (see above) shows is that the toxic culture - the victimisation ecosystem - doesn't just exist online, it filters down to the local party level, where it manifests as face to face hostility.
62/ And I know people say "well, it's just politics"
It goes way beyond the range of reasonable politics, even over passionate issues.
It's hatred dressed up as politics. I don't know if it comes out of the SWP-type factions that now control the party but it's toxic
It goes way beyond the range of reasonable politics, even over passionate issues.
It's hatred dressed up as politics. I don't know if it comes out of the SWP-type factions that now control the party but it's toxic
63/ I'm not involved in local Labour politics but there are many, many examples of Jews and non-Jews who have experienced the ugly, partisan and sometimes racist culture
e.g.
e.g.
64/ In November two Labour councillors resigned to protest the “given the alienation and ignorance we have faced, and the failure of our party to take seriously the disease of anti-Semitism we have diagnosed” peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/politics/…
65/ A Cantebury MP faced a motion of censure for criticising Jeremy Corbyn’s handling of the antisemitism issue politicshome.com/news/uk/politi…
66/ Momentum group's emails: “Antisemitism is necessary.. to persuade Jews they are safer in Israel and so to move there”; “Do people really think ll these security guards outside Jewish.. centres are protecting anybody rather than just generating an atmosphere of insecurity?”
67/ Southend West Constituency activists amended a motion about the Pittsburgh synagogue attack to remove a call for all forms of antisemitism to be eradicated and for Labour to “lead the way in opposing" Jew-hate thejc.com/news/uk-news/s…
68/ A former secretary of Westminster CLP wrote in October about the “personal hostility” she had seen directed at a Jewish member of the CLP and said Labour were unable to stamp out hatred and intolerance amongst its supporters
69/ That's a taster. The Jewish Labour Movement collected many more examples.
Plainly this goes beyond politics as usual.
What can be done? Macpherson said policy, example and leadership
But the example which has been set is really tacit endorsement
On to education next!
Plainly this goes beyond politics as usual.
What can be done? Macpherson said policy, example and leadership
But the example which has been set is really tacit endorsement
On to education next!
70/ What kind of a strange culture leads to these kinds of statements? Surely it's the victims who should be upset. It's of a piece with the attitude I come across here regularly - people (life long fellow Corbyn travellers) think that it is *they* have been victimised
71/ This from yesterday. Since this thread is about institutions, consider in what kind of institution the chair of a local party could have a regular slot on a racist radio show, which anyone could find by a simple Google search, and nobody seems to mind
62/ Back to Formby's figures for a moment.
There were 673 complaints against Labour members. 146 were given warnings of conduct, which I guess means that they were found to have done something wrong but not serious enough to be referred to the NCC
There were 673 complaints against Labour members. 146 were given warnings of conduct, which I guess means that they were found to have done something wrong but not serious enough to be referred to the NCC
63/ The question I raised above is whether the processes can be trusted. We simply don’t know. I have highlighted (further up) some of the very serious concerns I have about the processes, including bias and staff shortages
64/ Ultimately, only 12 people were expelled out of 673 complaints, though we don’t really know if the complaints against those 12 people were part of the 673 complaints or if they predated. Anyway, it’s a low number in light of the 20% or so who were sanctioned with warnings
65/ And we also know that at least one warning is now being revisited as an activist who was sent a warning has now been suspended after the case was raised by an MP. Personally, I have little confidence in the robustness of the process.
thejc.com/news/uk-news/l…
thejc.com/news/uk-news/l…
66/ One way to increase confidence would be to voluntarily submit a random sampling of, say, 50 cases, to (properly) independent counsel to review. And if there are issues with the processes, they should also be subjected to proper independent scrutiny.
72/ Do listen to the audio and consider whether it should have led to a warning or more
73/ Here is @hopenothate - an organisation which can hardly be accused of being anti-left (their work has been hugely focussed on the far right) releasing some interesting and concerning research tomorrow thejc.com/news/uk-news/s…
74/ Here's what @hopenothate say about the general situation, which very much reflects what I have said above thejc.com/news/uk-news/s…
@hopenothate 75/ Here is a link to the section of the wide ranging @hopenothate report which speaks a lot of sense. Have already seen @lowles_nick, doughty fighter of the far right, being referred to as a ‘centrist’ for publishing this hopenothate.org.uk/2019/02/17/sta…
