Labour seeks to stem antisemitism crisis after Ian Austin quits

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Source: The Guardian

Labour seeks to stem antisemitism crisis after Ian Austin quits

Lord Falconer may deal with complaints as Labour faces impact of ninth MP resigning

Dan Sabbagh
Sat 23 Feb 2019 00.06 GMT First published on Fri 22 Feb 2019 18.43 GMT

Labour is considering appointing an independent reviewer to oversee its handling of antisemitism complaints as the party battles to stem the flow of resignations after a ninth MP announced his departure on Friday.

Lord Falconer said he was in advanced conversations with the party’s general secretary, Jennie Formby, about taking up a new position in which he would examine whether the party was handling antisemitism and other complaints fairly. The former lord chancellor, who is respected on all wings of the party, said he had approached Formby with his proposal “because of my horror that the party has not been able to show it is dealing with antisemitism properly”.

Falconer’s potential appointment emerged hours after Ian Austin, who represents Dudley North, said he had resigned as a Labour MP, complaining that a “culture of extremism, antisemitism and intolerance” had taken over the party.

Austin said he had no plans to join the newly formed Independent Group, of eight ex-Labour MPs and three former Tories, although his decision to quit was welcomed by several of its members as a brave and difficult one.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/22/labour-seeks-to-stem-antisemitism-crisis-after-mp-ian-austin-quits

[T_i_B]

1. Closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.