Jeremy Corbyn’s allies used anti-Semitism as a “factional weapon,” the report said

Jeremy Corbyn‘s allies and opponents within Labor are using the issue of antisemitism as a “factional weapon”, a scathing report found yesterday.

The Forde report described a “toxic” atmosphere within the party and reported incidents of bullying and discrimination by staff.

It also noted that any suggestion that allegations of anti-Semitism were not a problem in the party or that it was all “slander” or a “witch hunt” was contradicted by evidence it had received.

Labor struggled with allegations of anti-Semitism during the period when Mr Corbyn led the party from 2015 to 2019

The report added: “Sadly, some still dispute the existence and seriousness of the problem, or the need to take action to address it, as the party has now begun.”

Labor struggled with allegations of anti-Semitism during the period when Mr Corbyn led the party from 2015 to 2019.

Mr Corbyn was suspended from the party after he said the level of anti-Semitism within Labor had been “dramatically overstated” by opponents.

Yesterday released the findings of an investigation into a leaked 2020 report detailing how Labor has dealt with anti-Semitism complaints. Its author Martin Forde QC criticized both factions within the party for their handling of anti-Semitism.

The report said both “sides” had “weaponized” the issue and “failed to recognize the seriousness of anti-Semitism, its impact on Jewish communities and the moral and political standing of the party.”

The leaked dossier found “no evidence” that anti-Semitism is handled differently than other grievances and accused the “factional opposition” to former leader Corbyn of obstructing efforts to resolve the issue.

But the foreword to the Forde report states: “The evidence clearly shows that a vocal faction in the party sees any issues regarding anti-Semitism as exaggerated by the right to embarrass the left.”

“Keir Starmer is now in control and has made real progress in ridding the party of the destructive factionalism and unacceptable culture that previously did so much damage and contributed to our defeat in 2019,” Labor said

It added: “It was of course also true that some opponents of Jeremy Corbyn saw the issue of anti-Semitism as a way to attack him.

“Therefore, instead of addressing the extremely serious problem of anti-Semitism in the party, both factions treated it as a factional weapon.”

The Labor Party said: “The Forde report describes a party that is out of control.

“Keir Starmer is now in control and has made real strides in ridding the party of the destructive factionalism and unacceptable culture that previously did so much damage and contributed to our defeat in 2019.”