Labour anti-Semitism row reignites as officials are accused of cover-up

A Labour row over tackling anti-Semitism has reignited as MPs accused party officials of covering up the number of complaints it has received.

MPs and peers demanded information about the scale of the problem as they met privately on Monday.

The Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) passed a motion calling for details including how many disciplinary cases remain outstanding, when a promised anti-Semitism code of practice will be completed and how the party is engaging with targets of abuse.

MPs leaving the private meeting at Westminster were furious about Labour general secretary Jennie Formby's response to the calls, claiming she was failing to adequately tackle the "cancer" within the party.

Senior Jewish Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge hit out at Ms Formby's "absurd" response after the PLP meeting. She said: "For me, if you want to get rid of the cancer of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party you have to have complete transparency and she's refusing to do that.”

The motion passed demands answers within a week, including on what process Labour is implementing "in terms of its duty of care to its elected representatives".

But critics of the party's response to the problem said Ms Formby told MPs she was not answerable to them but to Labour's ruling National Executive Committee.

Backbencher Wes Streeting, Labour MP for Ilford North, said Ms Formby's response had been "platitudinous, dismissive and far from acceptable". He said: "We are leaving the meeting feeling worse than we did when we walked in.

In a message to Labour MPs published on the LabourList website, Ms Formby set out the "significant progress to strengthen and speed up our procedures" since she became general secretary.

She said: "I am proud of the progress that has been made but I'm not complacent. Fundamental change takes time, in particular in a democratic, member-led organisation like the Labour Party, where rule changes must be approved at our annual party conference. However, wide-ranging changes are already in place.

"There is more work to be done to ensure all cases are dealt with quickly and fairly, and to eliminate the evil of anti-Semitism from our movement once and for all. I am personally committed to ensuring that Jewish members feel safe and welcome in our party, and in reassuring the Jewish community that we stand with them against oppression and prejudice."

Following the PLP meeting a Labour source said complaints processes are confidential and there was a responsibility to protect members’ data.

They said: "Jennie Formby gave a comprehensive update on the significant work that's been done to strengthen and speed up procedures and addressed the points in the motion.

"Complaints processes are confidential and the party has a responsibility to protect members' data."

Additional reporting by PA