So today is the day that the EHRC report is finally published. If its findings are as predicted it is not a cause for celebration. As with the election of Keir Starmer as leader, many of us seem a little too eager to embrace a 'new dawn'. (1)

The first point to note is that this is NOT about individuals and whether Corbyn in particular is antisemitic.
It concerns institutional discrimination against Jewish people in breach of equality/antidiscrimination laws. The failings are not cured by the removal of Corbyn. (2)

Remember Starmer remained in the Shad Cabinet and campaigned for an institutionally racist party led by Corbyn to achieve power. He and many others who remain on the front bench, as MPs, on NEC were prepared to overlook antisemitism in pursuit of a higher goal; winning power (3)

He and those others kept shtum while this was all going on and stood by as jews and even some MPs were hounded out of the party.
They did nothing as hardcore antisemitism flourished in their party. Time and again the perpetrators were either let off or not disciplined at all. (4)

They mustered a no confidence vote over Brexit but the odd tweet aside barely managed a whisper over antisemitism in their midst. Doubtless many were fearful of the backlash within the party or on social media, preferring to keep their heads down until the 'storm' passed. (5)

Leaving aside the lack of political courage involved it clearly demonstrates that the problem is an institutional one, born of a political culture. Until that is addressed, no amount of tinkering with process eg independent disciplinary, welcome as it is, will cure the disease(6)

What is to be done?
High profile expulsions certainly.
Automatic disciplinary proceedings for anyone employing antisemitic tropes or rhetoric in breach of the IHRA definition as adopted.
Massive education programme on jews about whom there is widespread ignorance (7)

Antisemitism (obviously) but also a specific and targeted programme of "deradicalisation" re Israel where the left 'discourse' has become so toxic, so utterly divorced from reality as to be fertile ground for the demonisation not only of Israel and Zionism but jews too. (8)

My fear is that Starmer will opt for the course of "least resistance": apology, pledge cooperation with EHRC, full implementation of recommendations, signal his difference with and divergence from the old regime...then quietly 'move on'. (9)

I am not sure he has the 'cojones' to rid the party from top to bottom of the scourge of antisemitism. My fear has always been that it is too widespread and too deep rooted to repair the damage now. I hope I am wrong. Since 2015 I haven't been thus far. Time will tell. (End)