Jeremy Corbyn hands his pal Jennie Formby a bigger role

Jeremy Corbyn sparked fury last night after putting forward a plan to give his political ally a much greater role in tackling anti-Semitism.

Addressing an emergency meeting to discuss Labour’s handling of the crisis, he said he wanted to set up a new disciplinary panel chaired by Jennie Formby, the party’s general secretary.

It came as Labour revealed that just eight people have been expelled for anti-Semitism so far this year despite all the rhetoric about cracking down on the problem. There were complaints against 625 Labour members in the first six months of 2019.

Mr Corbyn told the shadow cabinet yesterday that his new proposals would speed up Labour’s disciplinary processes in the most serious cases of racial hatred towards Jews.

Setting out plans to tackle the ‘poison’ of anti-Semitism, Mr Corbyn said the processes for dealing with serious cases were ‘not good enough’ and some had taken too long to be resolved.

He backed a plan which would allow the most serious cases to be referred to a special panel – consisting of general secretary Mrs Formby and National Executive Committee officers – which would have the power to expel anti-Semites. Labour insiders said this would allow for more rapid expulsion.

But he also set out an alternative proposal which would give existing NEC anti-Semitism panels the power to impose a suspension or expulsion, with a right of appeal to the National Constitutional Committee.

Mr Corbyn said: ‘It is wrong to deny there is anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. And those who deny that it does exist are part of the problem.

‘We have to stand for a serious, anti-racist, inclusive Socialism.’

He insisted there had been improvements in the disciplinary process but added: ‘I also know that some complaints have taken too long to deal with. This is not good enough. Our members don’t want to share their party with anyone who is racist – and they want to be able to demonstrate there is no place for anti-Semitism among them.

‘Some of the hate and bigotry displayed on social media would count as gross misconduct in any workplace and must be treated similarly robustly in the Labour Party.’

In a separate statement, the shadow cabinet called for independent oversight of the complaints process – something Mr Corbyn has so far refused to back. Veteran Jewish MP Dame Margaret Hodge criticised the proposed beefed-up role for Mrs Formby, who is currently battling breast cancer. It came two weeks after a BBC1 Panorama programme reported claims that senior Corbyn allies – including Mrs Formby – had interfered in disciplinary cases.

Dame Margaret said: ‘It shows Jeremy Corbyn is completely out of touch with what the Jewish community and all decent Labour Party members know – that the leader, his office and the general secretary have corrupted the complaints process by their political interference.

‘They cannot be trusted. Only a completely independent complaints process will start to rebuild trust.’ Labour figures showed that in the first six months of 2019 there have been complaints against 625 members relating to anti-Semitism – 0.1 per cent of the membership.

In 28 of the most serious disciplinary cases concluded by the NCC, eight members were expelled, three received an extended suspension, four got a warning, 12 left the party and one faced no action.

Jewish MP Ruth Smeeth said: ‘We are averaging over 100 anti-Semitism complaints a month yet have only expelled eight people.’ At a party meeting last night, Mrs Smeeth accused Mr Corbyn of failing to show solidarity with whistleblowers who spoke to Panorama.