Board of Deputies reacts to Labour Party’s Forde Report

Board of Deputies of British Jews President Marie van der Zyl has responded to a report investigating allegations of bullying, racism and sexism in the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

Marie said: “Under Keir Starmer, there has been a marked improvement in the seriousness with which Labour treats incidents of antisemitism, but we continue to stress that there is more to be done. The Jewish community is still deeply affected by the way in which antisemitism was allowed to flourish, all but unchecked, within the Labour Party during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

“The Forde report explicitly regrets that ‘some still deny the existence and the seriousness of the problem’ of antisemitism within Labour. Given this, we are troubled by the authors’ later expression that they are ‘disappointed’ that ‘Jewish Voice for Labour’ –  an extreme fringe far-left organisation that has obsessively denied antisemitism within the Labour Party – has not been granted a role in educating Labour members on antisemitism.  This is clearly a backward step and the authors of the report need to clarify their position on this matter.”