Al Jazeera – The Labour Files

JVL Introduction

Al Jazeera has produced four films about the situation in the Labour Party. Short versions have been broadcast and the entire series is now available unabridged online.

Their revelations are explosive, these films compulsive viewing.

Yet British mainstream media, with one or two minor exceptions, have simply blanked them and the Labour Party to date has issued no comment whatsoever.

It is vital to call for a thorough investigation of the claims these films are making.

(Updated Oct 2 adding the fourth film.)

Below we provide links to each of the four programmes with Al Jazeera’s own description of their contents

The Labour Files

Part 1: The Crisis

Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit uncovers the true story behind the “crisis of anti-Semitism” that engulfed the British Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn. It made him appear unfit to govern and led to a crushing electoral defeat. An analysis of internal party documents, social media data and covert recordings reveals how senior Labour officials used the party’s procedures to undermine support for Jeremy Corbyn and to silence debate about Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. The files also show how pro-Israel groups ask the party to distance itself from the Boycott Divest and Sanctions campaign, a protest movement that seeks to end Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands, and how – in response – the Jewish Board of Deputies was assured that Labour would “never accept attempts to exceptionalise and deligitimise Israel.”

Part 2: The Purge

An investigation based on the largest leak of documents in British political history. The Labour Files examines thousands of internal documents, emails and social media messages to reveal how senior officials in one of the two parties of government in the UK ran a coup by stealth against the elected leader of the party. The program will show how officials set about silencing, excluding and expelling its own members in a ruthless campaign to destroy the chances of Jeremy Corbyn becoming Britain’s prime minister. Candidates for key political roles were blocked and constituency groups suspended as the party’s central office sought to control the elected leadership.

Part 3: The Hierarchy

Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit reveals how a British political party that claims to embrace progressive values created a hierarchy of racism that discriminated against its Black, Asian and Muslim members. Interviews, internal documents and social media messages shared by the most senior staff in Britain’s Labour Party betray a racist culture where abuse was aimed at their own colleagues, councillors and political leaders. The Labour Files exposes how a battle for the heart of the UK’s main opposition party led to combatting anti-Semitism while creating secret dossiers to suspend Muslim members and shut down local democracy. Labour’s campaign to present a tough image on anti-Semitism while ignoring other forms of discrimination drove many staff to resign. One senior Labour staffer of Asian descent compared working in the Labour offices to be attacked by a racist thug.

Part 4: The Spying Game

In the final episode of The Labour Files – The Spying Game – Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit tells the sinister story of how The Labour Party used hacked data from a journalist to investigate their own members who were critical of the party. Despite questionable ethical and legal issues, and with the knowledge of the party’s leadership, the hacked emails were used as evidence to discipline Labour councillors and activists in a London borough. The Spy Games lifts the lid on underhand tactics inside the Labour Party to impose order on party rivals using stolen confidential data.