UK Edition
Thousands of Labour supporters could be expelled from party over anti-Semitism and abuse allegations
Thousands of Labour members and supporters could be suspended or expelled from the party over allegations of abuse and anti-Semitism, it has emerged.
Almost 6,000 people have been reported to the party’s National Executive Committee as part of a new initiative introduced in mid-July to curb threats and poor behaviour.
It came as Tory MP Andrew Bridgen revealed he had been approached by Labour MPs as part of an attempt to secure an early general election to “get rid of Jeremy Corbyn” as the party’s leadership contest continues.
Mr Bridgen said he has been approached by three Labour MPs in Westminster who have asked for him to continue his bid for a nationwide vote in order to oust Mr Corbyn.
The MP claims that the Labour members warned the only way to rid the party of Mr Corbyn would be for Labour to be “wiped out” at a general election and prove his unpopularity with the public.
Mr Corbyn has been criticised for failing to do enough to tackle abuse and allegations of anti-Semitism within the party. Though condemning abuse as unacceptable in any form, he has repeatedly told party members to ignore nasty comments, stating earlier this year: “The best way of dealing with abuse is: ignore it.”
Documents seen by The Telegraph reveal that almost 5,850 people have been reported to the party’s executive in total, more than 3,000 of them for allegations of abuse, with the rest accused of anti-Semitic behaviour and of supporting other political parties – banned under Labour’s rules.
The new figures emerged after female Labour MPs called on Mr Corbyn to tackle the increasing number of abusive comments posted online after one MP was forced to install a panic room. It comes just months after the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox outside her constituency office near Leeds.
A spokesman for Jeremy Corbyn said: "Jeremy has always made clear that there is no place in the Labour Party for intimidation, it goes against all our values and principles.
"That is why he supported a new code of conduct for all members that made reporting of alleged incidents easier".
A senior Labour source accused Mr Corbyn of downplaying the abuse suffered by members after it emerged that he would attend a campaign event at Labour’s annual conference, which would also host a man accused of online abuse. The cases have been reported to the party’s National Executive Committee, which will now review and decide on the thousands of incidents discovered by party staff.
One senior Labour source told The Telegraph: “The sad truth is the Labour Party is no longer a safe space for women and Jews. Party members who receive a daily barrage of disgusting abuse deserve better than for Jeremy Corbyn to attempt to downplay it or tell them to simply ignore it.”
It follows an appeal by Labour supporters who were banned from voting in the party’s leadership election, which was later overturned by the High Court. The decision means that 130,000 people will be barred from voting in a decision thought likely to hit Mr Corbyn hardest, as many of his supporters are not party members but activists.