Geoffrey Bindman on Labour’s antisemitism scandal: ‘There has been political manipulation’
Published
by
Richard Kuper
JVL Introduction
Middle East Eye’s editor David Hearst interviews Sir Geoffrey Bindman, one of Britain’s most distinguished lawyers in the field of human rights.
Bindman is unequivocal in finding much political manipulation in relation to the antisemitism crisis and the EHRC investigation.
It is Bindman’s clear view that
- Jeremy Corbyn did not say that antisemitism itself was not highly important, but he said there was not as much of it in the Labour Party as had been suggested – and he is absolutely right about that.
- “Jeremy is not antisemitic.” Far from tolerating antisemitism, Corbyn acted sensitively in the interests of the Jewish community in his constituency.
- There was no real evidence of the party itself breaking equality law.
- The EHCR findings of unlawful acts by the Labour Party because Ken Livingstone and a local councillor were acting as its agents is “a legal nonsense. If they were agents, it means every member is an agent of the Labour Party…”
- “I think there has been political manipulation and the allegations were almost entirely bogus. There’s antisemitism everywhere, but it was wrong to single out the Labour Party, to single out Jeremy Corbyn, to start an investigation into the Labour Party.”
This article was originally published by Middle East Eye on Fri 26 Aug 2022. Read the original here.
Geoffrey Bindman on Labour's antisemitism scandal: 'There has been political manipulation'
The leading human rights lawyer, himself Jewish, says the party has mishandled the issue, with claims of institutional antisemitism against the party not backed by the evidence
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What a shame Corbyn didn’t enlist Geoffrey Bindman and other senior Jewish figures when it mattered. All we have now is damage limitation to try and keep some of the left in the party.
I’ve learnt a lot reading this article.
If even Margaret Hodge is fed up with the CAA games , then clearly it’s “Political manipulation”. Unfortunately – Margaret Hodge aligned herself to the CAA “cause” – its difficult to extract heself and her reputation, as well as repair the damage done to the Labour Party’s chances of winning an election. I want Labour to win, but due to the “infighting and political manipulation, that worked – even I am disillusioned with Labour Party paid “Officials” – whereas before I thought we were all on the same page!!
As for having a coffee together, well Geoffrey might very well have got the conversation round to the A/S ‘problem’ and, as such, asked some awkward questions…… So best avoided, eh!
For example (conversationally, of course): ‘I really can’t understand why Ken was suspended – or why John Mann verbally attacked him and called him a Nazi apologist – when all he did was briefly allude to an historical fact. Do you understand it?’
Given the party leadership’s lack of action following the belated Forde Report findings (zero) it is no surprise that Kier has not responded to the Bindman interview. It’s been clear for a long time that Kier is in awe of the BoD and the Chief Rabbi who seem to have influence over him and hence the party. This is against the party’s principles: to act without fear or favour when dealing with attempts by external bodies to influence the way the party is governed. The leadership’s first aim would seem to be to rid the party of those pesky left-wing members, of which Corbyn has been their essential victim.