The Labor Party has successfully introduced reforms to tackle antisemitism within the party, according to the UK’s equality watchdog, marking what leader Sir Keir Starmer has called a “significant moment” in the organisation’s history.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission on Wednesday released the results of the monitoring, which followed a damning report on the issue in October 2020.
The findings ended one of the most damaging episodes in the party’s history, when the EHRC found it had acted unlawfully for failing to curb antisemitism under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.
The 2020 report prompted Starmer, newly appointed Labor leader, to suspend his predecessor as party whip at Westminster.
The EHRC report found that Labor had unlawfully allowed antisemitic harassment and political interference in antisemitism complaints, while failing to provide adequate training for those handling such complaints.
The parties agreed to follow the EHRC’s recommendations to address the issues identified and submit them to formal monitoring to ensure appropriate action is taken.
Corbyn, who remains suspended but continues to be an MP for the London seat of Islington North, has insisted opponents in the party exaggerated the scale of antisemitism for political reasons.
Starmer will attend an event in east London on Wednesday to mark the end of monitoring. He is expected to say in a statement that the end of the EHRC’s oversight is “an important moment in the history of the Labor Party”.
The leader should also pay tribute to those who have carried out their mission to “restore, renew and rebuild” the Labor Party on behalf of the country.
“Thanks to them, we can say emphatically, proudly, with conviction: the Labor Party has changed,” he said.
However, Starmer will also warn that the process of “restoring Labour” is far from over. “I don’t see today’s announcement as the end of the road. I see it as a sign that we are heading in the right direction,” he said.
Marcial Boo, chief executive of the EHRC, said the body had been reviewing Labour’s progress on implementing the recommendations.
“On January 31, 2023, we finished monitoring because we are satisfied that the party has taken the necessary actions to improve complaints, recruitment, training and other procedures to the required legal standards,” he said.
“This will help protect current and future members of the Labor Party from discrimination and harassment.”