Corbyn discussed Chakrabarti peerage ‘before anti-Semitism report’
Ex-shadow cabinet minister Tristram Hunt questioned the timing of the peer's appointment, saying it added to 'distrust '
Labour’s relationship with the Jewish community is in “real crisis”, a former shadow cabinet minister has warned, following further allegations about the timing of the peerage given to former Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti.
Former shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said the questions about the timing of the honour for Baroness Chakrabarti, who led an inquiry into anti-Semitism within Labour, would add to “distrust” between Jews and the party.
The Daily Telegraph said Jeremy Corbyn discussed giving Lady Chakrabarti a peerage with his team in March amid claims that sources suggested she was aware her name was listed before agreeing to conduct the anti-Semitism inquiry.
A spokesman for Mr Corbyn rejected the allegation, insisting that the offer of a peerage was made only after the publication of her report.
The newspaper reported that Lady Chakrabarti’s name was added to a longlist of potential new peers before she was approached to conduct the investigation into anti-Semitism.
It said sources had suggested that the peer was told this prior to the announcement on April 29 that she would chair the independent inquiry.
Lady Chakrabarti, now the shadow attorney general, denies being made aware that her name was on a longlist before she was officially approached by Mr Corbyn in July and offered the peerage in David Cameron’s resignation honours.
A spokesman for the Labour leader told the newspaper: “The offer of a peerage was only made to Shami after her report was published as part of Cameron’s resignation honours.”
Mr Hunt said that Lady Chakrabarti’s report, which was published on June 30, was a “missed opportunity” to deal with the issue of anti-Semitism.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Westminster Hour: “I don’t know the timeline on this but what I do know is that the Labour Party’s relationship with the Jewish community is in real crisis and any hint of some kind of transactional deal with Shami and the leader’s office will only (cause) further distrust.
“I can’t tell you how pained so many Labour MPs and Labour members are at the virus of anti-Semitism which seems to be infecting the party and Shami had a real opportunity to deal with it and confront it and address it and that was a missed opportunity and we’re still reaping the consequences of it.”
He added: “We have a great history with the Jewish community in the UK and that is being put at risk.”
Mr Corbyn has described anti-Semitism as “evil” and insisted Labour has taken “greater action” on the issue than any other party.
An inquiry by the cross-party Home Affairs Select committee earlier this month said the Chakrabarti report was “clearly lacking in many areas” and raised questions about the timing of her elevation to the Lords.
The MPs said Lady Chakrabarti had not been “sufficiently open” about when she was offered the peerage and did not foresee that the timing of her elevation to the Lords alongside a report “absolving” Mr Corbyn of responsibility for anti-Semitism “would completely undermine her efforts to address the issue”.
“It is equally concerning that Mr Corbyn did not consider the damaging impression likely to be created by this sequence of events,” the MPs said.
In his response to the committee Mr Corbyn said Lady Chakrabarti was appointed to the Lords only after she had completed her “unprecedented” report on anti-Semitism in the Labour Party.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
