LORD Walney has welcomed the suspension of former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, citing the party’s treatment of Jewish members as a reason for his resignation

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been suspended from the party after the human rights watchdog found it broke equality law in its handling of anti-Semitism. Mr Corbyn rejected some of the report’s findings and claimed the issue had been “dramatically overstated for political reasons” by his critics.

His comments prompted Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to take decisive action against his predecessor.

The EHRC investigation found evidence of “political interference” by then leader Mr Corbyn’s office in the complaints process.

Lord Walney, formerly a Labour MP for Barrow, said: “Jeremy Corbyn’s suspension from the party he corrupted beyond recognition is hugely welcome and a necessary early step to Labour being fit to govern again.

“Local Labour figures as well as national leaders should be holding up their hands in light of this bombshell report on anti-Semitism for their failure to take seriously the evil anti-Jewish prejudice that was being highlighted to them day after day.

“Unfortunately, many Labour voices in Barrow cheered on Mr Corbyn when they should have been standing up against the appalling things he was encouraging. If they continue to defend the indefensible, they should now expect to face similar treatment to that meted out to the former leader.”

Chris Altree, chair of Barrow and Furness Constituency Labour Party, said: “This shows the Labour party holds anyone in it’s ranks to account without fear or favour.

“That is as it should be.

“It is pity that this Tory Government did not do the same thing given their behaviour.”

The EHRC found 23 instances of inappropriate involvement by the Leader of the Opposition’s Office (LOTO) and others in the 70 files the watchdog looked at. They included LOTO staff influencing decisions, including on suspensions or whether to investigate claims. The watchdog found that the lack of training for people handling anti-Semitism complaints indirectly discriminated against Jewish members until August 2020, by which time Sir Keir Starmer was leader of the party. It highlighted the actions of former London mayor Ken Livingstone and Pam Bromley, who was a councillor in Rossendale, Lancashire, during the anti-Semitism row.

The EHRC said Labour was responsible for their anti-Semitic conduct, resulting in a finding of unlawful harassment, because they were acting as agents of the party. But the report said this was only the tip of the iceberg and a further 18 “borderline” cases were found, involving councillors, local election candidates and constituency party office holders where there was not enough evidence to conclude Labour was legally responsible for their conduct.

Frank Cassidy, Labour councillor for South Walney, said: “Conversations are taking place both locally and nationally and we will have more to say when these conversations have concluded.”