London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jul 04, 2025

Ex-leadership let hate spread within Labour - Starmer

Ex-leadership let hate spread within Labour - Starmer

Labour's previous leadership allowed "hate to spread unchallenged", party leader Sir Keir Starmer has claimed.
In an address at London Labour's annual conference, he said work to tackle discrimination "never stops".

The party was plagued by antisemitism scandals under Jeremy Corbyn, with a 2020 report finding Labour to be in breach of the Equality Act.

The former leader acknowledged antisemitism in the party but said it was overstated for political reasons.

Mr Corbyn was suspended from Labour over these comments and readmitted a month later - although not to the parliamentary party. He continues to sit in the Commons as an independent MP.

Sir Keir said he would make tackling antisemitism - prejudice or hostility against Jewish people - a priority after taking over in 2020.

In Saturday's speech - which came a day after Holocaust Memorial Day - he said the issue had again been on his mind recently.

He pointed to wider changes that had been made within the party, accusing the previous Labour of being a "party of protest not public service".

But, speaking to around 600 supporters in the capital, he said there was no room for "complacency" if they hoped to win the next election.

Labour had to show it was "different to the party Britain rejected in 2019", said the MP for London constituency, Holborn and St Pancras.

The party was resoundingly defeated in that year's general election.

Antisemitism was generally not regarded as a big problem for Labour before Mr Corbyn's election as leader in 2015.

But, as the balance of power shifted within the party, attention focused on what activists and representatives had said about Israel and Jewish people.

There followed a string of high-profile suspensions over alleged antisemitic comments - and several high-profile MPs walked out over the way the scandal was handled.

Mr Corbyn repeatedly insisted that anti-Jewish hate would not be tolerated in the party, but faced accusations that he was not doing enough to root out the problem.

In 2020, a report by the UK's human rights watchdog found Labour to have been responsible for "unlawful" acts of harassment and discrimination during his four-and a-half year tenure.

Mr Corbyn expressed the hope that the report's recommendations would be "swiftly implemented", though said he did not accept all of the findings - comments which got him suspended.

In Saturday's speech, Sir Keir said the party's "commitment to fighting all forms of hate and discrimination never stops".

Sir Keir sought to draw other contrasts between his leadership and the previous one. He said he had shown he understood the importance of "sound money".

But he acknowledged that there were "good Labour things" that he could be unable to implement if he entered 10 Downing Street, owing to the UK's economic situation.

He attacked the Conservatives over crises within the NHS, and accused the Tories of "sticking plaster politics" that threatened to "destroy" the health service.

Government minister Oliver Dowden hit back at the Labour leader, saying his "empty slogans ring hollow", including over the economy.

The chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster accused Labour of making unfunded spending promises and failing to "stand up to their union paymasters" amid widespread strike action.

Mr Dowden added: "Starmer is too weak and too indecisive to make the hard decisions needed to strengthen the UK.

"All Labour propose are the same old ideas, more spending and more borrowing - it's their one answer to everything."
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
×