By a Left Horizon reader
In what can only be described as kind of creeping Stalinism, the right-wing machine that currently governs the Labour Party is doing its utmost to stifle free speech and discussion. The guidelines issued by the general secretary, David Evans, on discussions on the EHRC report, are an affront to the traditions of open debate and discussion in the labour movement.
In recent years there has been a fashion for courts to apply legal injunctions against newspapers who wish to report on certain stories. They have always been easy to come by, if you have the resources to go for them. But it is also possible to get a so-called super injunction, whereby the press are not only forbidden from mentioning a newsworthy issue, they even forbidden from mentioning that there is an injunction in the first place.
Outlandish statements allowed
In much the same way, certain issues, and even words, are fast becoming banned in the Labour Party. Right-wing MPs are allowed to make the most outlandish and exaggerated statements about anti-Semitism in the Party: “tidal waves” is one that springs to mind. Two years ago, the three leading Jewish newspaper in Britain, published a joint editorial making the ludicrous claim that a Labour government under Jeremy Corbyn would present “an existential threat” to British Jews.
But on the other hand, even the most reasonable attempt by a Labour member to inject a note of caution into a discussion on anti-Semitism, like saying that some claims are “exaggerated” or “overstated”, will be construed itself as anti-Semitism. It is reminiscent of Stalinism, or, using a different analogue, McCarthyism. Not only are the ‘guilty’ guilty, but anyone who tries to defend the guilty are themselves guilty by association.
Certain words are banned to LP members
The EHRC report itself points out that under the terms of the European Human Rights Convention, Labour Party members can “express their opinions on internal Party matters, such as the scale of antisemitism within the party, based on their own experience and within the law.” But it seems that Labour’s hierarchy is pushing hard against the European Human Rights Convention, because certain views are not allowed to be expressed either in meetings or on social media, on pain of suspension.
The guidelines Evans has sent to CLPs say that “motions that seek to question the competence of the EHRC to conduct the investigation in any way, or repudiate or reject the report or any of its recommendations are not competent business and must be ruled out of order.” If there are any attempts by CLPs to discuss these issues, there is no doubt that the regional or national office of the Labour Party will close them down.
Is the EHRC impartial and independent?
It is important to note that it is not illegal to question the independence and impartiality of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission on websites and in newspapers – only in Labour Party meetings and by Labour Party members. And the Labour Party will use its members’ donations to employ people to trawl through social media posts, to make sure the ban is applied.
An article on the website, Electronic intifada, including a short video by former Labour MP, Chris Williamson, does challenge EHRC impartiality. It points out that there are strong links between the Commission and the British establishment, including the Conservative Party.
In June this year, the website Newsweek carried an article noting that one of the EHRC commissioners – who is still listed as such on its website – had donated money to the Tory Party and “failed to declare her donation and fundraising activity for the Conservative Party”. Pavita Cooper, according to the Electoral Commission, had made donations totalling £3,5000.
EHRC refuses to investigate the Tories
Then there is the question of its failure to investigate the Tory Party. Despite numerous complaints and representation made to the EHRC about the Islamophobia in the Conservative Party, particularly by the Muslim Council of Britain, no such EHRC inquiry has been launched. Allegations against the Tories have even been backed up by a Tory Chairperson, Baroness Warsi, who, in 2018, claimed the Tory Party was in ‘denial’ over its Islamophobia. Yet the EHRC thinks the Tory Party is competent to ‘investigate’ itself, while the Labour Party, apparently, wasn’t. she had been raising the issue
It has always been in the best traditions of the labour movement that everyone is allowed their say, provided it is done in a comradely and fraternal matter. But now it looks like the battle for democracy in the Labour Party has now opened up another important front – the right for free speech and free expression of opinion.
October 31, 2020
