Labour MP Dawn Butler says the party will be found guilty of ‘institutional racism’ by equalities watchdog over allegations some officials discriminated against Jews
- Dawn Butler said there was no doubt the EHRC will find that her party discriminated against Jews
- The MP also claimed she has suffered anti-black hostility from party staffers
- EHRC launched a formal inquiry into Labour’s anti-Semitism problem last year
Labour is certain to be found guilty of ‘institutional racism’ by the equalities watchdog, an MP close to Jeremy Corbyn has admitted.
Dawn Butler said there was no doubt the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) will find that her party discriminated against Jews.
She told an online meeting of Momentum activists: ‘We may as well just accept that point now.’
The MP, who stood unsuccessfully as Labour deputy leader, also claimed she has suffered anti-black hostility from party staffers. The EHRC launched a formal inquiry into Labour’s anti-Semitism problem last year after the Jewish Labour Movement and others complained that the party was not doing enough to discipline members guilty of anti-Jewish hatred.
Dawn Butler said there was no doubt the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) will find that her party discriminated against Jews
The watchdog is due to report later this year.
Momentum, the Left-wing group that propped up Mr Corbyn when he was leader, held the online meeting on ‘how to build an anti-racist party’ on Sunday. It was publicised by MPs including Diane Abbott, the former shadow home secretary. Almost 450 people listened in to the open meeting, and some of the contents have been disclosed to the Daily Mail.
It occurred weeks after the publication of a leaked internal document that was compiled by those close to Mr Corbyn in an attempt to show he was not guilty of failing to deal with anti-Semitism.
The dossier included claims that black Labour MPs, including Miss Abbott and Miss Butler, had faced abuse from party staff.
Miss Butler was shadow equalities secretary under Mr Corbyn. Her admission comes two years after she accused Theresa May’s Government of ‘institutional racism’ over the Windrush scandal
Miss Butler was shadow equalities secretary under Mr Corbyn. Her admission comes two years after she accused Theresa May’s Government of ‘institutional racism’ over the Windrush scandal.
Miss Butler told the Momentum meeting via video conferencing app Zoom: ‘You know, racism, institutional racism has existed – and no matter who was in charge – and the party will be found to be institutionally racist, so we may as well just accept that point now.
‘What we have to do is live with it and say, “How do we make sure that it changes?” – and that change has to be sustainable, and not just in the short term.’
Miss Butler said she was not sure why Labour staff members with racist views had not been suspended.