John ware’s bbc panorama has exposed labour’s institutional anti-semitism | thearticle

John ware’s bbc panorama has exposed labour’s institutional anti-semitism | thearticle


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Blaming Boris Johnson for the débacle in Washington satisfies the need for a scapegoat, but the resignation of Sir Kim Darroch was predictable and predicted, not least in these columns,


since the leak of diplomatic telegrams undermined his position. But by the time Whitehall and Westminster had spent the day competing in self-righteous indignation, the stench of something


far worse was filling the nation’s nostrils. The full extent of Labour’s institutional anti-Semitism was revealed in a brilliant BBC Panorama documentary by John Ware. He interviewed eight


former Labour officials of the National Constitution Committee (NCC), responsible for dealing with disputes, who had been forced out of their jobs by Jeremy Corbyn’s closest allies merely


for attempting to root out anti-Semitism. They spoke about how constant interference from the General Secretary, Jennie Formby, and Director of Communications, Seumas Milne, had damaged


their mental health, leading one to contemplate suicide. There is a word for what has happened to the NCC staffers: they have been purged. Dismissed as “disaffected” by the party, these


young individuals came across as dedicated, sincere and honest. Their stories, deeply disturbing, were backed up by more senior officials, including the former General Secretary Lord


McNicol. Several had taken the risk of breaking non-disclosure agreements to speak out. Two incidents, both denied by Labour, stood out. First, the cover up: Ms Formby had allegedly sent an


email, copied to Corbyn himself, stating that “the NCC cannot be allowed to continue” suspending and expelling members for anti-Semitism. She later told the same recipients: “I’ve deleted


all trace of the email.” Lord McNicol, clearly dismayed by his successor’s conduct, said that this email “should ring alarm bells across the party”. Secondly, Seumas Milne, who is also


accused of meddling in the disputes procedure, was asked by one of the NCC team whether Corbyn could deliver a speech affirming Israel’s right to exist. He merely laughed. As for Corbyn


himself: he has a long history of troubling statements and links with extremism. Asked whether the Labour leader was anti-Semitic, one of the NCC said that if he had been an ordinary member,


they would have recommended Corbyn’s expulsion. It was clear from the evidence that the huge influx of far-Left members that followed Corbyn’s election in 2015 caused the complaints


procedure to be overwhelmed. Several younger Jewish members described the extreme hostility they had encountered. Labour, they conceded, was no longer a safe space for Jews. Anti-Semitism is


often known as the oldest hatred, because it has existed for as long as recorded history. In medieval England, too, Jews were persecuted and expelled. Since they began to return in the


mid-17th century, Jews have built one of the most successful communities in Europe. Augmented by refugees from Tsarist pogroms and Nazi genocide, British Jews are proud to belong to the


country that stood up to Hitler. But the prospect of a Corbyn government fills practically all British Jews with dread. Most say that they have at least considered emigration. This is


shameful. John Ware and the BBC have done the country a service by shining a light into the dark recesses of what was once the natural home for Jewish voters. Predictably, the Labour Party


complained about the Panorama documentary even before it was shown and the Left has done its best to smear Ware. His integrity and impartiality are, however, beyond doubt and the BBC should


defend him robustly. Labour is already under formal investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission for its institutional anti-Semitism. It is right and proper for journalists to


uncover and expose the hideous truth: that Jeremy Corbyn has transformed the Labour Party, Her Majesty’s loyal Opposition, into the largest anti-Semitic organisation in Europe.