labourlist--2020-12-17--Labour publishes antisemitism action plan after gaining EHRC approval

The Labour Party has published the action plan for tackling antisemitism within its ranks after securing approval from the Equality and Human Rights Commission that earlier this year found it responsible for unlawful acts .
The legally-required plan was developed in six weeks after the EHRC report was published .
It was sent to the body for approval on December 10th after being unanimously agreed by Labour ’ s national executive committee .
Now released in full , the formal response to the EHRC investigation into Labour antisemitism sets out the key steps that the party will take to implement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October .
The reforms are summarised by the plan as such : • Leadership committed to zero-tolerance of antisemitism , culture change and action against offenders • Independent antisemitism complaints handling process to be set up as soon as possible • All national executive committee and national constitutional committee antisemitism panels to be assisted by external lawyers • Consultation with the Jewish community will be built into all aspects of the action plan .
With immediate effect , we will establish a high-level advisory board and a reference group to work closely with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sounding board • Summary of case decisions to be posted on the Labour Party website • Labour Party website to be updated with dedicated pages for antisemitism complaints • Develop a complaints handling handbook for all staff and to especially guide those handling antisemitism complaints • Strengthen social media guidelines to make clear that sharing or liking antisemitic content will be subject to disciplinary action • Deliver , alongside Jewish stakeholders , appropriate antisemitism training for all staff • Protocol to be published governing the Leadership ’ s interaction with disciplinary and complaints @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner say : “ First , we will change the way complaints of antisemitism and all other forms of racism are handled .
“ We will be establishing an independent process to investigate complaints of antisemitism , Islamophobia , racism , sexual harassment and any discrimination based on protected characteristics.
” The Labour leader and deputy leader have said they will not have “ any involvement in deciding the outcome of individual complaint cases ” and will “ employ external lawyers to advise antisemitism panel hearings ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ antisemitism cases ” , they have promised that Labour will “ not hesitate to sanction those who breach our rules ” , will “ strengthen ” social media guidelines and will see candidates “ undergo greater due diligence checks ” .
Starmer and Rayner added : “ Second , we commit to greater transparency in our complaints processes to increase trust and confidence in our procedures .
“ To implement this action plan effectively , we will set up an advisory board composed of members from the Jewish community and a reference group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical friend.
” The EHRC report found that there were “ unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination for which the Labour Party is responsible ” , “ serious failings in leadership ” and “ an inadequate process for handling antisemitism complaints ” .
The equality body concluded that Labour is responsible for three breaches of the Equality Act ( 2010 ) relating to political interference in antisemitism complaints , failure to provide adequate training and harassment .
Its binding recommendations told Labour to engage with Jewish stakeholders , commission an independent process to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sanction political interference in this process .
Commenting on the action plan , the Jewish Labour Movement said : “ Jewish Labour members want to see Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner continue to set out clear and decisive actions in tackling anti-Jewish racism within our party .
“ Many of the steps set out in this action plan are those that JLM has been asking the party to implement for years .
We are disappointed that it took the intervention of the EHRC to secure them , but pleased that we now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ As the centenary year of our affiliation to the Labour Party draws to an end , we will continue to play our part in being a loyal but critical friend to the Labour Party in resolving these challenges .
Our expectations will be however , as they always have been , for strong actions to follow positive words .
“ Whilst we welcome the reform of processes , by itself it is not enough .
Recent events have shown a toxic culture persists in many parts of the party .
Solving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independent disciplinary process .
The action plan specifies that its implementation will be monitored by the EHRC for two years , with the key dates for this process being April 29th , July 29th , December 10th next year and December 10th in 2022 .
Labour will “ make monthly returns ” to the EHRC for the first six months and report quarterly after this period .
The party will meet with the EHRC to discuss progress , at first bimonthly and later on a quarterly basis .
Jane Ramsey , who trained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Labour as its new senior adviser on standards and ethics who will lead on the establishment of a new independent complaints process for internal disciplinary matters .

The Labour Party has published the action plan for tackling antisemitism within its ranks after securing approval from the Equality and Human Rights Commission that earlier this year found it responsible for unlawful acts.
The legally-required plan was developed in six weeks after the EHRC report was published. It was sent to the body for approval on December 10th after being unanimously agreed by Labour’s national executive committee.
Now released in full, the formal response to the EHRC investigation into Labour antisemitism sets out the key steps that the party will take to implement the recommendations of the binding report from October.
It commits the party to having an independent complaints process “up and running” and being used to determine all antisemitism complaints by December 10th next year. This allows time for a party conference to be held.
Labour plans to “pursue independent elements” of the process in the meantime, however, which can take place without rulebook changes requiring a conference. Such elements include independent scrutiny of complaint handling.
The plan also officially and publicly confirms the existence of ‘Organise to Win’ for the first time. This is the name given to the review of Labour’s organisational structure, led by former civil service head Bob Kerslake, which started in July.
LabourList understands that the review recently concluded with a report submitted to general secretary David Evans. Organise to Win aims to make Labour more election-focused, but also to address internal party culture problems.
One party source told LabourList: “Most people accept the findings and agree with the aims. There will be people who see it as ‘are they coming for our jobs’ but from what I can tell nobody would disagree that the culture and structures need improving.”
The reforms are summarised in the plan as follows:
Leadership committed to zero-tolerance of antisemitism, culture change and action against offenders
Independent antisemitism complaints handling process to be set up as soon as possible
All national executive committee and national constitutional committee antisemitism panels to be assisted by external lawyers
Consultation with the Jewish community will be built into all aspects of the action plan. With immediate effect, we will establish a high-level advisory board and a reference group to work closely with the Labour Party and act as a sounding board
Summary of case decisions to be posted on the Labour Party website
Strengthen due diligence checks on candidates
Labour Party website to be updated with dedicated pages for antisemitism complaints
Develop a complaints handling handbook for all staff and to especially guide those handling antisemitism complaints
Strengthen social media guidelines to make clear that sharing or liking antisemitic content will be subject to disciplinary action
Deliver, alongside Jewish stakeholders, appropriate antisemitism training for all staff
Protocol to be published governing the Leadership’s interaction with disciplinary and complaints procedures
In the plan’s foreword, Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner say: “First, we will change the way complaints of antisemitism and all other forms of racism are handled.
“We will be establishing an independent process to investigate complaints of antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, sexual harassment and any discrimination based on protected characteristics.”
The Labour leader and deputy leader have said they will not have “any involvement in deciding the outcome of individual complaint cases” and will “employ external lawyers to advise antisemitism panel hearings”.
Pledging to “address the backlog of antisemitism cases”, they have promised that Labour will “not hesitate to sanction those who breach our rules”, will “strengthen” social media guidelines and will see candidates “undergo greater due diligence checks”.
Starmer and Rayner added: “Second, we commit to greater transparency in our complaints processes to increase trust and confidence in our procedures.
“To implement this action plan effectively, we will set up an advisory board composed of members from the Jewish community and a reference group to act as a sounding board and critical friend.”
The EHRC report found that there were “unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination for which the Labour Party is responsible”, “serious failings in leadership” and “an inadequate process for handling antisemitism complaints”.
The equality body concluded that Labour is responsible for three breaches of the Equality Act (2010) relating to political interference in antisemitism complaints, failure to provide adequate training and harassment.
Its binding recommendations told Labour to engage with Jewish stakeholders, commission an independent process to “handle and determine” antisemitism complaints and sanction political interference in this process.
Commenting on the action plan, the Jewish Labour Movement said: “Jewish Labour members want to see Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner continue to set out clear and decisive actions in tackling anti-Jewish racism within our party.
“Many of the steps set out in this action plan are those that JLM has been asking the party to implement for years. We are disappointed that it took the intervention of the EHRC to secure them, but pleased that we now have a new leadership committed to act.
“As the centenary year of our affiliation to the Labour Party draws to an end, we will continue to play our part in being a loyal but critical friend to the Labour Party in resolving these challenges. Our expectations will be however, as they always have been, for strong actions to follow positive words.
“Whilst we welcome the reform of processes, by itself it is not enough. Recent events have shown a toxic culture persists in many parts of the party. Solving this is as essential as introducing an independent disciplinary process.”
The Campaign Against Antisemitism, also a complainant in the EHRC probe, welcomed the action plan and said it had been “vindicated”, but warned that there would be an “extremely long delay” in setting up an independent process.
The CAA’s Gideon Falter added: “Until then, our complaints against 15 sitting MPs, including Mr Corbyn, will remain outstanding, and it will be impossible for British Jews to assess whether Labour is addressing antisemitism effectively.”
The charity submitted complaints to Labour in October about Labour MPs including Rayner and several current frontbenchers, and asked for the cases to be considered via “transparent investigations” within six months.
The EHRC action plan specifies that its implementation will be monitored by the EHRC for two years, with the key dates for this process being April 29th, July 29th, December 10th next year and December 10th in 2022.
Labour will “make monthly returns” to the EHRC for the first six months and report quarterly after this period. The party will meet with the EHRC to discuss progress, at first bimonthly and later on a quarterly basis.
Jane Ramsey, who trained as a barrister, has been appointed by Labour as its new senior adviser on standards and ethics who will lead on the establishment of a new independent complaints process for internal disciplinary matters.


labourlist--2020-12-17--McDonnell calls for ban on private sector contracts in UK Covid response

Labour ’ s John McDonnell has demanded a ban on all private sector contracts being used for the UK ’ s coronavirus response services in a bid to end “ rampant ” conflicts of interest that have been exposed during Covid .
Calling for a moratorium on pandemic outsourcing , the former Shadow Chancellor highlighted the appointment of Tory peer Dido Harding as head of the test and trace programme – despite her having no experience working in healthcare .
The Hayes and Harlington MP also called attention to a former neighbour of Health Secretary Matt Hancock being awarded a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vials – despite him having no prior experience in producing medical supplies .
The news revealed by The Guardian last month led to Labour ’ s deputy leader Angela Rayner calling the situation a “ disgrace ” and saying it showed the government was “ making a mockery of the sacrifices that the British people have made ” .
Unveiling his demand today , McDonnell said : “ The public is fed up with story after story of contracts being handed out to government cronies , leading to billions of wasted money and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are being bypassed and left demoralised as the government hollows out the skills we need to build to deal with future crises .
“ Only a moratorium on this scandalous practice can give us the breathing space to refocus and introduce procedures that will ensure the probity and effectiveness of the pandemic processes.
” A National Audit Office report recently found that half of all Covid contracts , worth £10.5bn , have been handed out without a competitive tender process and that applicants with political contacts were ten times more likely to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could not “ give assurance that government has adequately mitigated the increased risks arising from emergency procurement or applied appropriate commercial practices in all cases ” .
The bold demand by McDonnell today for a halt to private sector contracts amid the Covid crisis comes ahead of an online discussion this afternoon with barrister Jolyon Maugham , the founder and director of the Good Law Project .
Maugham ’ s organisation revealed leaked documents in October showing that the Cabinet Office was “ directly feeding its contacts into the procurement process , outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ VIPs ” win government contracts .
The leak exposed a “ startling opportunity for price gouging by favoured suppliers ” , the Good Law Project found , with questions only being asked if prices offered were more than 25 % above the average paid to other suppliers .
“ The information that government would buy at 25 % above the price paid to ‘ regular ’ suppliers was a licence to make enormous margins – 35-45 % – on contracts sometimes worth hundreds of millions of pounds , ” Maugham said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cross-party group of MPs to sue Hancock on the basis that the Department of Health is responsible for “ egregious and widespread failure to comply with legal duties and established policies ” .
The Department said it could not comment on legal proceedings but that the processes set up are “ in line with procurement regulations for exceptional circumstances ” and government transparency guidelines are being followed .
Public and Commercial Services Union ( PCS ) union general secretary Mark Serwotka will also join the event hosted by McDonnell , along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Guardian journalist Juliette Garside .
The event is being organised by Claim the Future , a campaign group launched by McDonnell over the summer to help set out a socialist vision for a post-coronavirus economy by encouraging activists to “ strategise , organise , assemble ” .

Labour’s John McDonnell has demanded a ban on all private sector contracts being used for the UK’s coronavirus response services in a bid to end “rampant” conflicts of interest that have been exposed during Covid.
Calling for a moratorium on pandemic outsourcing, the former Shadow Chancellor highlighted the appointment of Tory peer Dido Harding as head of the test and trace programme – despite her having no experience working in healthcare.
The Hayes and Harlington MP also called attention to a former neighbour of Health Secretary Matt Hancock being awarded a contract for millions of NHS Covid-19 test vials – despite him having no prior experience in producing medical supplies.
The news revealed by The Guardian last month led to Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner calling the situation a “disgrace” and saying it showed the government was “making a mockery of the sacrifices that the British people have made”.
Unveiling his demand today, McDonnell said: “The public is fed up with story after story of contracts being handed out to government cronies, leading to billions of wasted money and policy failures.
“Hard-working civil servants are being bypassed and left demoralised as the government hollows out the skills we need to build to deal with future crises.
“Only a moratorium on this scandalous practice can give us the breathing space to refocus and introduce procedures that will ensure the probity and effectiveness of the pandemic processes.”
A National Audit Office report recently found that half of all Covid contracts, worth £10.5bn, have been handed out without a competitive tender process and that applicants with political contacts were ten times more likely to be successful.
The NAO concluded that it could not “give assurance that government has adequately mitigated the increased risks arising from emergency procurement or applied appropriate commercial practices in all cases”.
The bold demand by McDonnell today for a halt to private sector contracts amid the Covid crisis comes ahead of an online discussion this afternoon with barrister Jolyon Maugham, the founder and director of the Good Law Project.
Maugham’s organisation revealed leaked documents in October showing that the Cabinet Office was “directly feeding its contacts into the procurement process, outside the normal public channel” to help “VIPs” win government contracts.
The leak exposed a “startling opportunity for price gouging by favoured suppliers”, the Good Law Project found, with questions only being asked if prices offered were more than 25% above the average paid to other suppliers.
“The information that government would buy at 25% above the price paid to ‘regular’ suppliers was a licence to make enormous margins – 35-45% – on contracts sometimes worth hundreds of millions of pounds,” Maugham said.
The Good Law Project is joining with a cross-party group of MPs to sue Hancock on the basis that the Department of Health is responsible for “egregious and widespread failure to comply with legal duties and established policies”.
The Department said it could not comment on legal proceedings but that the processes set up are “in line with procurement regulations for exceptional circumstances” and government transparency guidelines are being followed.
Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) union general secretary Mark Serwotka will also join the event hosted by McDonnell, along with Jatinder Hayre of Keep our NHS Public and Guardian journalist Juliette Garside.
The event is being organised by Claim the Future, a campaign group launched by McDonnell over the summer to help set out a socialist vision for a post-coronavirus economy by encouraging activists to “strategise, organise, assemble”.


labourlist--2020-12-17--Covid messaging for Christmas is a mess – and the whole system needs a rethink

The public are being told to follow the guidance over Christmas , not the law .
What is legally allowed should be considered a “ maximum , not a target ” .
At the same time , Boris Johnson talks of people who “ simply want to spend Christmas with their families ” , giving the impression that bubbling up and travelling to see them is therefore an entirely reasonable course of action .
He reckons it would be “ frankly inhuman ” to cancel Christmas and has made clear that the UK government will not do so – while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Questions of wanting to do just that .
This jibe , combined with his chaotic messaging at the latest coronavirus press conference , could not have made it clearer that policy is being guided by the potential for bad headlines possibly featuring the word ‘ Grinch ’ , rather than expert advice .
While the law in England will not change , with three households still allowed to form a bubble for five days , Labour ’ s Mark Drakeford took the step of toughening up not only the guidance but also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only two households will be allowed to bubble over Christmas .
( Wales will also enter a fresh lockdown from the 28th . )
The four-nations approach fell apart yesterday , despite claims of unity from Johnson .
This is deeply unfortunate , but the reasons are obvious .
Daily Covid cases topped 25,000 , deaths are rising , hospitalisation is increasing .
The vaccine roll-out has just begun , meaning immunity is just weeks away for many elderly people , yet the legal situation decided three weeks ago will enable risky behaviour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to conclude that Starmer has made the right call in describing this approach to Christmas as “ the next big mistake ” .
The key point made by the Labour leader at PMQs was this : the majority of Tier 2 and Tier 3 areas in the country are seeing coronavirus infections go up instead of down .
This applies in three out of four Tier 2 areas and over half of Tier 3 areas , Starmer pointed out .
How can anyone claim that the Prime Minister ’ s tier system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Essex and Hertfordshire entered Tier 3 early this week , the scheduled review still took place and Matt Hancock will reveal new tier allocations later this morning .
Johnson stated three weeks ago that it “ should be possible for areas to move down the tiering scale ” at this review , but reports suggest this is unlikely .
The bigger question , however , is whether anyone will acknowledge that the whole system needs a rethink .
Although a Brexit deal has not been struck , the House of Commons and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providing that outstanding legislation is passed as planned .
Talks between the UK and EU are continuing , and both sides are making more optimistic noises about the chances of an agreement before December 31st .
MPs and peers could be recalled at 48 hours ’ notice to sit as early as Monday , but at the moment we simply do not know whether it will happen next week , between Christmas and the New Year , or not at all .
Talk about a short Christmas… Sign up to LabourList ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekday morning .

The public are being told to follow the guidance over Christmas, not the law. What is legally allowed should be considered a “maximum, not a target”. At the same time, Boris Johnson talks of people who “simply want to spend Christmas with their families”, giving the impression that bubbling up and travelling to see them is therefore an entirely reasonable course of action. He reckons it would be “frankly inhuman” to cancel Christmas and has made clear that the UK government will not do so – while accusing Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions of wanting to do just that. This jibe, combined with his chaotic messaging at the latest coronavirus press conference, could not have made it clearer that policy is being guided by the potential for bad headlines possibly featuring the word ‘Grinch’, rather than expert advice.
While the law in England will not change, with three households still allowed to form a bubble for five days, Labour’s Mark Drakeford took the step of toughening up not only the guidance but also what is legal in Wales, where only two households will be allowed to bubble over Christmas. (Wales will also enter a fresh lockdown from the 28th.) The four-nations approach fell apart yesterday, despite claims of unity from Johnson. This is deeply unfortunate, but the reasons are obvious. Daily Covid cases topped 25,000, deaths are rising, hospitalisation is increasing. The vaccine roll-out has just begun, meaning immunity is just weeks away for many elderly people, yet the legal situation decided three weeks ago will enable risky behaviour in the meantime. It is difficult not to conclude that Starmer has made the right call in describing this approach to Christmas as “the next big mistake”.
The key point made by the Labour leader at PMQs was this: the majority of Tier 2 and Tier 3 areas in the country are seeing coronavirus infections go up instead of down. This applies in three out of four Tier 2 areas and over half of Tier 3 areas, Starmer pointed out. How can anyone claim that the Prime Minister’s tier system is working? Although London and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire entered Tier 3 early this week, the scheduled review still took place and Matt Hancock will reveal new tier allocations later this morning. Johnson stated three weeks ago that it “should be possible for areas to move down the tiering scale” at this review, but reports suggest this is unlikely. The bigger question, however, is whether anyone will acknowledge that the whole system needs a rethink.
Although a Brexit deal has not been struck, the House of Commons and Lords will rise for recess today, providing that outstanding legislation is passed as planned. Talks between the UK and EU are continuing, and both sides are making more optimistic noises about the chances of an agreement before December 31st. MPs and peers could be recalled at 48 hours’ notice to sit as early as Monday, but at the moment we simply do not know whether it will happen next week, between Christmas and the New Year, or not at all. Talk about a short Christmas… Sign up to LabourList’s morning email for everything Labour, every weekday morning.


labourlist--2020-12-17--Dodds accuses Sunak of waiting until “last possible minute” on furlough

Anneliese Dodds has accused Rishi Sunak of waiting until the “ last possible minute ” to make a statement on the furlough scheme and only providing clarity for employers 24 hours before another key redundancy deadline on Friday .
Responding to the government deciding to continue contributing 80 % towards wages , the Shadow Chancellor highlighted that those businesses with over 100 employees would have had to start redundancy process tomorrow .
The Chancellor announced today that the job retention scheme would continue until the end of April 2021 , a month longer than previously announced , to give “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the New Year ” .
But the Shadow Chancellor argued : “ Once again the Chancellor has waited until the last possible minute to act , leaving businesses in the dark with less than 24 hours before they have to issue redundancy notices.
” Emphasising Labour ’ s theme of ‘ responsible government ’ and the need for forward-planning , she added : “ Rishi Sunak ’ s irresponsible , last-minute decision-making has left the UK with the worst recession of any major economy.
” In October , the government announced that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 2021 just hours before it was due to end .
Dodds criticised the Chancellor at the time for making the U-turn at the “ last-minute ” .
Sunak had planned to review the scheme next month to decide whether companies would be required to contribute .
Businesses were required to cover an increasing proportion of workers ’ pay as Covid restrictions eased earlier this year .
Firms with more than 100 staff have a statutory obligation to hold consultation processes on redundancies for at least 45 days .
Employers would have needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to allow time to issue redundancy notices .
Ahead of the deadline for redundancies tomorrow , the Treasury confirmed in a statement today : “ The government will continue to pay 80 % of the salary of employees for hours not worked until the end of April .
“ Employers will only be required to pay wages , National Insurance Contributions and pensions for hours worked ; and NICs and pensions for hours not worked.
” According to Office for National Statistics figures published on Tuesday , redundancies soared to a record 370,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the previous expected end to the furlough scheme in October .
The extension announced to the scheme in October came after the deadline for large businesses to start these proceedings , at 45 days , and also small and medium-sized businesses , which have a 30-day statutory requirement for redundancies .
Figures from the ONS show that the number of workers on furlough has more than doubled since the end of October with the government subsidising the incomes of around five million people , or 15.5 % of the UK workforce .
Around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the job retention scheme at the end of October .
The scheme reached its peak uptake in May this year when it was protecting around 8.9 million jobs .
Sunak has also been urged to extend the self-employed income support scheme ( SEISS ) , with the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed ( IPSE ) warning that the self-employed have too often been an “ afterthought ” .
“ At least 1.5 million self-employed have fallen through the gaps in government support – particularly directors of limited companies and the newly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said this afternoon .
“ As the extension of the furlough scheme shows , we are far from the end of this and the self-employed need just as much protection and support through the coming months as the rest of the workforce.
” Business groups and union leaders have warned the government that further action is needed to prevent people from losing their jobs and having to rely on Universal Credit , which is due to be cut by £20 per week in April .

Anneliese Dodds has accused Rishi Sunak of waiting until the “last possible minute” to make a statement on the furlough scheme and only providing clarity for employers 24 hours before another key redundancy deadline on Friday.
Responding to the government deciding to continue contributing 80% towards wages, the Shadow Chancellor highlighted that those businesses with over 100 employees would have had to start redundancy process tomorrow.
The Chancellor announced today that the job retention scheme would continue until the end of April 2021, a month longer than previously announced, to give “businesses and employees across the UK certainty into the New Year”.
But the Shadow Chancellor argued: “Once again the Chancellor has waited until the last possible minute to act, leaving businesses in the dark with less than 24 hours before they have to issue redundancy notices.”
Emphasising Labour’s theme of ‘responsible government’ and the need for forward-planning, she added: “Rishi Sunak’s irresponsible, last-minute decision-making has left the UK with the worst recession of any major economy.”
In October, the government announced that the furlough scheme would be extended to March 2021 just hours before it was due to end. Dodds criticised the Chancellor at the time for making the U-turn at the “last-minute”.
Sunak had planned to review the scheme next month to decide whether companies would be required to contribute. Businesses were required to cover an increasing proportion of workers’ pay as Covid restrictions eased earlier this year.
Firms with more than 100 staff have a statutory obligation to hold consultation processes on redundancies for at least 45 days. Employers would have needed to make plans for February by Friday to allow time to issue redundancy notices.
Ahead of the deadline for redundancies tomorrow, the Treasury confirmed in a statement today: “The government will continue to pay 80% of the salary of employees for hours not worked until the end of April.
“Employers will only be required to pay wages, National Insurance Contributions and pensions for hours worked; and NICs and pensions for hours not worked.”
According to Office for National Statistics figures published on Tuesday, redundancies soared to a record 370,000 during the three months leading up to the previous expected end to the furlough scheme in October.
The extension announced to the scheme in October came after the deadline for large businesses to start these proceedings, at 45 days, and also small and medium-sized businesses, which have a 30-day statutory requirement for redundancies.
Figures from the ONS show that the number of workers on furlough has more than doubled since the end of October with the government subsidising the incomes of around five million people, or 15.5% of the UK workforce.
Around 2.9 million jobs were still protected by the job retention scheme at the end of October. The scheme reached its peak uptake in May this year when it was protecting around 8.9 million jobs.
Sunak has also been urged to extend the self-employed income support scheme (SEISS), with the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) warning that the self-employed have too often been an “afterthought”.
“At least 1.5 million self-employed have fallen through the gaps in government support – particularly directors of limited companies and the newly self-employed,” IPSE director Andy Chamberlain said this afternoon.
“As the extension of the furlough scheme shows, we are far from the end of this and the self-employed need just as much protection and support through the coming months as the rest of the workforce.”
Business groups and union leaders have warned the government that further action is needed to prevent people from losing their jobs and having to rely on Universal Credit, which is due to be cut by £20 per week in April.


labourlist--2020-12-17--Labour left figures tell party leadership to “end the attacks on party democracy”

A number of Labour MPs , peers , trade union general secretaries , members of Labour ’ s national executive committee and organisations on the left have jointly issued a statement on democracy within the party .
Titled ‘ Stand Up for Labour Party Democracy ’ , the statement calls on the Labour leadership to “ reinstate the whip to Jeremy Corbyn ” and “ end the attacks on party democracy , legitimate discussion and recent wave of suspensions ” .
The coalition of Labour left figures , including the leaders of seven party-affiliated trade unions , has said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership undermining party democracy ” via a “ clampdown on legitimate party discussions ” .
Labour general secretary David Evans told local party secretaries , chairs , MPs , MSPs and MSPs in November that motions on the suspension of the whip from Corbyn – including expressions of solidarity – would be “ ruled out of order ” .
He said such items for debate were “ providing a flashpoint for the expression of views that undermine the Labour Party ’ s ability to provide a safe and welcoming space for all members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In an email to local officials last week , Evans thanked officers who have been implementing his guidance by not allowing the motions to be heard .
He reiterated that limits must be in place to ensure meetings are safe for Jewish members .
Banned motions include any criticising the Equality and Human Rights Commission report that found Labour responsible for unlawful acts , expressions of solidarity with Corbyn , and motions of no confidence in Evans or Keir Starmer .
The Jewish Labour Movement , a party-affiliated organisation , has expressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in November offered its members “ practical guidance in line with our duty of care ” in response to such discussions .
Reacting to the EHRC action plan today , JLM referred to “ recent events ” showing that a “ toxic culture persists in many parts of the party ” .
The group urged Labour to address this concern as well as set up an independent disciplinary process .
Momentum has unveiled today a new support unit for “ wrongly suspended members ” , which is run by legal advisors and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for expressing support for Jeremy Corbyn .
Below is the full text of the statement and list of signatories .
We are proud that the Labour Party is a democratic socialist party and so we are deeply concerned by the Labour leadership undermining party democracy and its clampdown on legitimate party discussions in recent weeks .
The decision to deny Jeremy Corbyn the Labour Party whip despite the NEC readmitting him back into the party ; the attempts to silence the elected representatives of Young Labour for releasing a statement reflecting the views @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to CLPs about what they can and can ’ t discuss ; and the suspension of CLP officers for reflecting the wishes of their local party members is part of a worrying pattern of behaviour .
Members are the lifeblood of our party .
It is the volunteering of tens of thousands of members – their local campaigning , their door-knocking and their relationships with local voters – that roots us in every community .
Members must be treated with respect , including by upholding the basic democratic right that local party members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positions our local parties take , as well as by ensuring that meetings are always open , inclusive and free from discrimination .
Attempts to prevent party members from discussing legitimate topics in a respectful way will demoralise and undermine the involvement of many ahead of what is a key period of elections in 2021 when grassroots members of our party will be needed to give up their spare time to help us win .
We call on the Labour leadership to reinstate the whip to Jeremy Corbyn , end the attacks on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wave of suspensions , and instead to focus on taking the fight to the Tories .
Christine Blower , Member of the House of Lords Pauline Bryan , Member of the House of Lords Katy Clark , Member of the House of Lords Bryn Davies , Member of the House of Lords John Hendy QC , Member of the House of Lords Prem Sikka , Member of the House of Lords Tony Woodley , Member of the House of Lords Manuel Cortes , General Secretary of TSSA Chris Kitchen , General Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Len McCluskey , General Secretary of Unite the Union Dave Ward , General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union ( CWU ) Mick Whelan , General Secretary of ASLEF Sarah Woolley , General Secretary of the Bakers , Food and Allied Workers ’ Union ( BFAWU ) Matt Wrack , General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union ( FBU ) Momentum Campaign For Labour Party Democracy Campaign For Socialism ( Scotland ) Welsh Labour Grassroots Arise : a Festival of Labour ’ s Left Ideas Red Labour Labour Representation Committee Don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Labour Labour Assembly Against Austerity

A number of Labour MPs, peers, trade union general secretaries, members of Labour’s national executive committee and organisations on the left have jointly issued a statement on democracy within the party.
Titled ‘Stand Up for Labour Party Democracy’, the statement calls on the Labour leadership to “reinstate the whip to Jeremy Corbyn” and “end the attacks on party democracy, legitimate discussion and recent wave of suspensions”.
The group of Labour left figures, including the leaders of seven party-affiliated trade unions, has said it is “deeply concerned by the Labour leadership undermining party democracy” via a “clampdown on legitimate party discussions”.
Labour general secretary David Evans told local party secretaries, chairs, MPs, MSPs and MSPs in November that motions on the suspension of the whip from Corbyn – including expressions of solidarity – would be “ruled out of order”.
He said such items for debate were “providing a flashpoint for the expression of views that undermine the Labour Party’s ability to provide a safe and welcoming space for all members, in particular our Jewish members”.
In an email to local officials last week, Evans thanked officers who have been implementing his guidance by not allowing the motions to be heard. He reiterated that limits must be in place to ensure meetings are safe for Jewish members.
Banned motions include any criticising the Equality and Human Rights Commission report that found Labour responsible for unlawful acts, expressions of solidarity with Corbyn, and motions of no confidence in Evans or Keir Starmer.
The Jewish Labour Movement, a party-affiliated organisation, has expressed concern over certain motions being heard and in November offered its members “practical guidance in line with our duty of care” in response to such discussions.
Reacting to the EHRC action plan today, JLM referred to “recent events” showing that a “toxic culture persists in many parts of the party”. The group urged Labour to address this concern as well as set up an independent disciplinary process.
Momentum has unveiled today a new support unit for “wrongly suspended members”, which is run by legal advisors and will aim to help those facing disciplinary proceedings for expressing support for Jeremy Corbyn.
Below is the full text of the statement and list of signatories.
We are proud that the Labour Party is a democratic socialist party and so we are deeply concerned by the Labour leadership undermining party democracy and its clampdown on legitimate party discussions in recent weeks.
The decision to deny Jeremy Corbyn the Labour Party whip despite the NEC readmitting him back into the party; the attempts to silence the elected representatives of Young Labour for releasing a statement reflecting the views of their own executive members; instructions to CLPs about what they can and can’t discuss; and the suspension of CLP officers for reflecting the wishes of their local party members is part of a worrying pattern of behaviour.
Members are the lifeblood of our party. It is the volunteering of tens of thousands of members – their local campaigning, their door-knocking and their relationships with local voters – that roots us in every community.
Members must be treated with respect, including by upholding the basic democratic right that local party members can decide what they discuss and the positions our local parties take, as well as by ensuring that meetings are always open, inclusive and free from discrimination.
Attempts to prevent party members from discussing legitimate topics in a respectful way will demoralise and undermine the involvement of many ahead of what is a key period of elections in 2021 when grassroots members of our party will be needed to give up their spare time to help us win.
We call on the Labour leadership to reinstate the whip to Jeremy Corbyn, end the attacks on party democracy, legitimate discussion and recent wave of suspensions, and instead to focus on taking the fight to the Tories.
Signed by
Diane Abbott MP
Tahir Ali MP
Apsana Begum MP
Richard Burgon MP
Ian Byrne MP
Dan Carden MP
Mary Foy MP
Ian Lavery MP
Rebecca Long-Bailey MP
John McDonnell MP
Ian Mearns MP
Grahame Morris MP
Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP
Kate Osborne MP
Zarah Sultana MP
Jon Trickett MP
Claudia Webbe MP
Mick Whitley MP
Nadia Whittome MP
Beth Winter MP
Christine Blower, Member of the House of Lords
Pauline Bryan, Member of the House of Lords
Katy Clark, Member of the House of Lords
Bryn Davies, Member of the House of Lords
John Hendy QC, Member of the House of Lords
Prem Sikka, Member of the House of Lords
Tony Woodley, Member of the House of Lords
Manuel Cortes, General Secretary of TSSA
Chris Kitchen, General Secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM)
Len McCluskey, General Secretary of Unite the Union
Dave Ward, General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU)
Mick Whelan, General Secretary of ASLEF
Sarah Woolley, General Secretary of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union (BFAWU)
Matt Wrack, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU)
Gemma Bolton NEC (CLP Section)
Yasmine Dar NEC (CLP Section)
Nadia Jama NEC (CLP Section)
Laura Pidcock NEC (CLP Section)
Mish Rahman NEC (CLP Section)
Lara McNeill, NEC Youth Representative
Jess Barnard, Chair of Young Labour
Momentum
Campaign For Labour Party Democracy
Campaign For Socialism (Scotland)
Welsh Labour Grassroots
Arise: a Festival of Labour’s Left Ideas
Red Labour
Labour Representation Committee
Don’t Leave, Organise
Jewish Voice for Labour
Labour Assembly Against Austerity


labourlist--2020-12-17--Labour slams Tory equalities brief ‘overhaul’ as “gratuitous provocation”

Labour ’ s Marsha de Cordova has accused the Conservatives of “ gratuitous provocation ” after government minister Liz Truss declared that the debate over equalities should be “ led by facts , not by fashion ” .
Truss , who is both International Trade Secretary and minister for women and equalities , delivered a speech to the Centre for Policy Studies today that criticised ‘ identity politics ’ and unconscious bias training .
She told the think tank event : “ To make our society more equal , we need the equality debate to be led by facts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again , we see politicians making their own evidence-free judgements.
” The minister claimed that the debate is too often “ dominated by a small number of unrepresentative voices , and by those who believe people are defined by their protected characteristic and not by their individual character ” .
Commenting on the intervention by Truss this afternoon , Labour ’ s Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary Marsha de Cordova joined trade unions and others in condemning the remarks from the equalities minister .
De Cordova said : “ This is gratuitous provocation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face up to its responsibilities and the widening inequality it has caused .
“ When Liz Truss dismisses ‘ fashionable ’ causes she actually dismisses the devastating impact of discrimination and unfairness in peoples ’ day to day lives .
“ It is laughable for the Conservatives to claim to care about class when they have frozen public sector pay , driven up poverty , and plan to cut Universal Credit and impose a council tax rise.
” Rishi Sunak announced a public sector pay freeze in his spending review last month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cap on wages , and that the national living wage would increase to £8.91 instead of the planned rise to £9.21 .
De Cordova added : “ This year has highlighted how important it is for people to come together .
Instead of looking for new ways to divide communities and pining for an era of Thatcherite individualism , the Tories should focus on fixing the structural inequality that holds people back.
” Truss claimed that data based on protected characteristics set out under the Equalities Act is not fit for purpose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be “ rooted ” in “ real concerns people face ” .
The nine protected characteristics defined in the legislation are age , disability , gender reassignment , marriage and civil partnership , pregnancy and maternity , race , religion or belief , sex , and sexual orientation .
Truss said : “ While it is true people in these groups suffer discrimination , the focus on protected characteristics has led to a narrowing of the equality debate that overlooks socio-economic status and geographic inequality .
“ This means some issues – particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neglected .
This project will broaden the drive for equality.
” TUC general secretary Frances O ’ Grady joined criticism of the comments , saying : “ No matter who you are or where you are from , everyone should be able to get on in life .
Liz Truss is presenting a false choice .
“ Ministers must both tackle the barriers facing today ’ s diverse working class , and act to end the additional discrimination and disadvantage affecting Black and ethnic minority , women and disabled workers .
“ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contracts in their employment bill due in 2021 .
This would help end the insecurity that penalises BME workers and women in particular , and holds down living standards for all workers.
” O ’ Grady reiterated her call for the Tories to tackle insecure work in the employment bill due in 2021 , introduce a legal duty on all public bodies to tackle class and income inequality and bring in reporting of BAME , class and disability pay gaps .
ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan told Truss to “ get real ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ ridiculous ” , declaring : “ It is absolutely extraordinary that the minister for equalities is calling for less equality .
“ It would be like the minister for sport calling for less sport , or the Secretary of State for Trade calling for less trade .
Although we might , just be going there , too… “ What Liz Truss has haplessly called the “ tools of the left ” is an agenda promoted by thoughtful and sensible people of all political persuasions , and most political parties , to create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the colour of their skin , or their gender , or their sexuality , their background , or their birth , has the opportunity to get on .
“ That is what the equalities agenda is all about ; giving everybody in Britain a chance to contribute to building a better Britain .
It is , frankly , ridiculous for Liz Truss to talk about ‘ fashion ’ and ‘ focus ’ .
Get real.
” Runnymede Trust chief executive Halima Begum said : “ Truss ’ s attempts to ‘ overhaul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is nothing short of a whitewashing of British history and its relationship with race.
” The speech by the government minister followed the announcement on Wednesday that the report into racial inequality in the UK , unveiled earlier this year by the Prime Minister , will not be completed until 2021 .
The commission on race and ethnic disparities , established in June in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests , was due to report by the end of this year but has now requested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cordova also criticised the Tories for their “ indifference ” to gender pay inequality earlier this year – and called for the government to “ prevent this crisis from further cementing women ’ s economic inequality ” .
The Government Equalities Office announced in March that it would not be taking action against employers who fail to submit their pay gap data due to the pandemic , effectively suspending the requirement for the year .
The Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary slammed the decision at the time as “ negligent ” , pointing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and that such inequalities “ amplify the impact of the pandemic ” .
Labour highlighted last month that progress towards closing the gender pay gap , currently at 14.6 % for UK workers , has slowed significantly over the past ten years under successive Conservative governments .
Government figures also show that more women have been on furlough during Covid than men , and the TUC has highlighted that the impact of the virus has been particularly acute for BAME women , who are likely to be in lower paid , insecure @ @

Labour’s Marsha de Cordova has accused the Conservatives of “gratuitous provocation” after government minister Liz Truss declared that the debate over equalities should be “led by facts, not by fashion”.
Truss, who is both International Trade Secretary and minister for women and equalities, delivered a speech to the Centre for Policy Studies today that criticised ‘identity politics’ and unconscious bias training.
She told the think tank event: “To make our society more equal, we need the equality debate to be led by facts, not by fashion. Time and time again, we see politicians making their own evidence-free judgements.”
The minister claimed that the debate is too often “dominated by a small number of unrepresentative voices, and by those who believe people are defined by their protected characteristic and not by their individual character”.
Commenting on the intervention by Truss this afternoon, Labour’s Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary Marsha de Cordova joined trade unions and others in condemning the remarks from the equalities minister.
De Cordova said: “This is gratuitous provocation from a government that consistently refuses to face up to its responsibilities and the widening inequality it has caused.
“When Liz Truss dismisses ‘fashionable’ causes she actually dismisses the devastating impact of discrimination and unfairness in peoples’ day to day lives.
“It is laughable for the Conservatives to claim to care about class when they have frozen public sector pay, driven up poverty, and plan to cut Universal Credit and impose a council tax rise.”
Rishi Sunak announced a public sector pay freeze in his spending review last month, with NHS nurse and doctors exempt from the cap on wages, and that the national living wage would increase to £8.91 instead of the planned rise to £9.21.
De Cordova added: “This year has highlighted how important it is for people to come together. Instead of looking for new ways to divide communities and pining for an era of Thatcherite individualism, the Tories should focus on fixing the structural inequality that holds people back.”
Truss claimed that data based on protected characteristics set out under the Equalities Act is not fit for purpose and argued that debates on equality must be “rooted” in “real concerns people face”.
The nine protected characteristics defined in the legislation are age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
Truss said: “While it is true people in these groups suffer discrimination, the focus on protected characteristics has led to a narrowing of the equality debate that overlooks socio-economic status and geographic inequality.
“This means some issues – particularly those facing white working-class children – are neglected. This project will broaden the drive for equality.”
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady joined criticism of the comments, saying: “No matter who you are or where you are from, everyone should be able to get on in life. Liz Truss is presenting a false choice.
“Ministers must both tackle the barriers facing today’s diverse working class, and act to end the additional discrimination and disadvantage affecting Black and ethnic minority, women and disabled workers.
“They should start by banning the hated zero-hours contracts in their employment bill due in 2021. This would help end the insecurity that penalises BME workers and women in particular, and holds down living standards for all workers.”
O’Grady reiterated her call for the Tories to tackle insecure work in the employment bill due in 2021, introduce a legal duty on all public bodies to tackle class and income inequality and bring in reporting of BAME, class and disability pay gaps.
ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan told Truss to “get real” and described claims in her speech as “ridiculous”, declaring: “It is absolutely extraordinary that the minister for equalities is calling for less equality.
“It would be like the minister for sport calling for less sport, or the Secretary of State for Trade calling for less trade. Although we might, just be going there, too…
“What Liz Truss has haplessly called the “tools of the left” is an agenda promoted by thoughtful and sensible people of all political persuasions, and most political parties, to create a country in which everyone, regardless of the colour of their skin, or their gender, or their sexuality, their background, or their birth, has the opportunity to get on.
“That is what the equalities agenda is all about; giving everybody in Britain a chance to contribute to building a better Britain. It is, frankly, ridiculous for Liz Truss to talk about ‘fashion’ and ‘focus’. Get real.”
Runnymede Trust chief executive Halima Begum said: “Truss’s attempts to ‘overhaul’ the equalities work in the UK is nothing short of a whitewashing of British history and its relationship with race.”
The speech by the government minister followed the announcement on Wednesday that the report into racial inequality in the UK, unveiled earlier this year by the Prime Minister, will not be completed until 2021.
The commission on race and ethnic disparities, established in June in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests, was due to report by the end of this year but has now requested a further two months.
Marsha de Cordova also criticised the Tories for their “indifference” to gender pay inequality earlier this year – and called for the government to “prevent this crisis from further cementing women’s economic inequality”.
The Government Equalities Office announced in March that it would not be taking action against employers who fail to submit their pay gap data due to the pandemic, effectively suspending the requirement for the year.
The Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary slammed the decision at the time as “negligent”, pointing out that coronavirus “thrives on inequality” and that such inequalities “amplify the impact of the pandemic”.
Labour highlighted last month that progress towards closing the gender pay gap, currently at 14.6% for UK workers, has slowed significantly over the past ten years under successive Conservative governments.
Government figures also show that more women have been on furlough during Covid than men, and the TUC has highlighted that the impact of the virus has been particularly acute for BAME women, who are likely to be in lower paid, insecure work.


labourlist--2020-12-17--Why we should use political education to challenge transphobia within Labour

Like many trans people within the Labour Party , I have been horrified to see trans liberation becoming a divisive issue amongst the membership .
Transphobic motions have been repeatedly passed by Constituency Labour Parties without response from the outgoing national executive committee .
Recently a Labour MP has had two members of staff resign over her transphobia , and a moral panic continues to surround the Labour Party ’ s position on the Gender Recognition Act – a minor piece of legislation that has little to no impact on the lives of most trans people , let alone anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greeted with near silence from the leadership of the party .
This takes place in the context of increased hostility towards trans people in the UK and around the world .
Trans people are more likely to experience the lasting impact of austerity , be it through lack of access to healthcare , safe housing or security in work .
Recent reports suggest four out of five trans people in the UK have experienced a form of trans hate crime over the last 12 months .
This mirrors an infamous report from 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trebled in recent years – with almost half of these being violent offences ranging from assault to grievous bodily harm .
Meanwhile , far-right governments such as in Hungary have been using the cover of coronavirus to push through policies that dangerously strip back rights for trans people .
It has been frustrating to see Labour Party members – including our allies – unable to respond effectively to transphobia when it arises within our ranks .
Where there has been a backlash , it has often been only to call for suspensions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transphobic views .
This is an understandable reaction in the context of historic lack of action from our representatives and , of course , in some cases suspensions might be appropriate .
But responding to all instances of transphobia in this way risks failing to deal with the root of the problem , and can unhelpfully fan the flames of the debate , often at the expense of the people most affected .
The Labour Party should be taking political education seriously as a way of intervening in issues , like transphobia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education gives us a framework for understanding how trans liberation fits within the broader struggle for socialism – something that should unite all of us .
It gives us the chance to engage with people who have taken on problematic views about trans people – be it from the largely transphobic UK mainstream media , or popular culture – before they become truly radicalised .
These conversations can be difficult , but if more allies were equipped to effectively challenge transphobia when it arises , trans people wouldn ’ t have to expend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s why trans people within Momentum , The World Transformed , Labour Campaign for Trans Rights and the Labour Party LGBT+ Network have come together to organise a programme of political education on trans liberation .
We ’ ve held big online events , open to everyone , and engaged hundreds of people in discussions about key issues relating to trans liberation – including the material demands trans people are making right now , why it ’ s important to understand transphobia in order to effectively challenge it , and why trans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the struggle against the patriarchy .
We ’ ve platformed trans organisers , academics and creatives from across the labour movement , alongside supportive MPs like Nadia Whittome .
We ’ ve designed resources that people in CLPs across the country can use to deliver their own political education .
Most importantly , we ’ ve used the programme to connect and empower trans people within the Labour Party and beyond .
We want this programme to engage Labour Party members from across the party .
But we know this is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutions including the Labour Party , Momentum and the unions to start to view political education as an important tool to tackle transphobia , supporting trans people and our allies to deliver training and resources to their many thousands of members .
This is what meaningful allyship looks like in the context of the rising threat faced by trans people around the world .
If you are a trans person who wants to get involved in helping build this programme , please drop us a line on [ email protected ] .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ What even is transphobia ?
’ , taking place on Thursday 17th December from 6pm to 7pm here .

Like many trans people within the Labour Party, I have been horrified to see trans liberation becoming a divisive issue amongst the membership. Transphobic motions have been repeatedly passed by Constituency Labour Parties without response from the outgoing national executive committee. Recently a Labour MP has had two members of staff resign over her transphobia, and a moral panic continues to surround the Labour Party’s position on the Gender Recognition Act – a minor piece of legislation that has little to no impact on the lives of most trans people, let alone anyone else. All of this has been greeted with near silence from the leadership of the party.
This takes place in the context of increased hostility towards trans people in the UK and around the world. Trans people are more likely to experience the lasting impact of austerity, be it through lack of access to healthcare, safe housing or security in work. Recent reports suggest four out of five trans people in the UK have experienced a form of trans hate crime over the last 12 months. This mirrors an infamous report from 2019, which found that transphobic attacks had trebled in recent years – with almost half of these being violent offences ranging from assault to grievous bodily harm. Meanwhile, far-right governments such as in Hungary have been using the cover of coronavirus to push through policies that dangerously strip back rights for trans people.
It has been frustrating to see Labour Party members – including our allies – unable to respond effectively to transphobia when it arises within our ranks. Where there has been a backlash, it has often been only to call for suspensions of party members or staff who have expressed transphobic views. This is an understandable reaction in the context of historic lack of action from our representatives and, of course, in some cases suspensions might be appropriate. But responding to all instances of transphobia in this way risks failing to deal with the root of the problem, and can unhelpfully fan the flames of the debate, often at the expense of the people most affected.
The Labour Party should be taking political education seriously as a way of intervening in issues, like transphobia, that are dividing the membership. Political education gives us a framework for understanding how trans liberation fits within the broader struggle for socialism – something that should unite all of us. It gives us the chance to engage with people who have taken on problematic views about trans people – be it from the largely transphobic UK mainstream media, or popular culture – before they become truly radicalised. These conversations can be difficult, but if more allies were equipped to effectively challenge transphobia when it arises, trans people wouldn’t have to expend so much energy responding ourselves.
That’s why trans people within Momentum, The World Transformed, Labour Campaign for Trans Rights and the Labour Party LGBT+ Network have come together to organise a programme of political education on trans liberation. We’ve held big online events, open to everyone, and engaged hundreds of people in discussions about key issues relating to trans liberation – including the material demands trans people are making right now, why it’s important to understand transphobia in order to effectively challenge it, and why trans and non trans women should be united in the struggle against the patriarchy.
We’ve platformed trans organisers, academics and creatives from across the labour movement, alongside supportive MPs like Nadia Whittome. We’ve designed resources that people in CLPs across the country can use to deliver their own political education. Most importantly, we’ve used the programme to connect and empower trans people within the Labour Party and beyond.
We want this programme to engage Labour Party members from across the party. But we know this is not enough by itself. We need left institutions including the Labour Party, Momentum and the unions to start to view political education as an important tool to tackle transphobia, supporting trans people and our allies to deliver training and resources to their many thousands of members. This is what meaningful allyship looks like in the context of the rising threat faced by trans people around the world.
If you are a trans person who wants to get involved in helping build this programme, please drop us a line on [email protected]. You can register for our next event, ‘What even is transphobia?’, taking place on Thursday 17th December from 6pm to 7pm here.


labourlist--2020-12-17--Starmer declares Covid tier system “not strong enough to control the virus”

Keir Starmer has declared that the tiered system of restrictions to suppress the spread of coronavirus is “ not strong enough to control the virus ” and stressed the approach from the government “ needs fixing and fixing fast ” .
In a Sky News interview this afternoon , the Labour leader discussed the hierarchy of Covid regulations in place and commented on the first scheduled review of tier allocations unveiled by the Health Secretary this morning .
Starmer said : “ My concern about the tier system is it ’ s just not strong enough to control the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers going in the wrong direction across the country in the last seven days in particular .
“ And there are real gaps in the system .
I think , you know , there are many areas that are going to stay in Tier 3 and they will be asking themselves how on earth do we get out of this situation ?
” Matt Hancock this morning told MPs in parliament that Tier 3 , the most severe set of Covid restrictions involving the closure of hospitality , would now apply to many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past midnight .
Tier 3 will apply to Bedfordshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Peterborough , the whole of Hertfordshire , Surrey ( with the exception of Waverley ) , Hastings and Rother on the Kent border of East Sussex , Portsmouth , Gosport and Havant in Hampshire .
Bristol and North Somerset will come out of Tier 3 and enter Tier 2 instead , while Herefordshire will enter Tier 1 , Hancock said .
But he added that “ in most places , we are not there yet ” in terms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge for businesses , Starmer argued this afternoon : “ Many businesses are really worried about the constant chopping and changing because they adapt their business , sometimes then it ’ s ten or 14 days and it changes again… “ I ’ m not going to pretend that this is easy because we do need restrictions , and no government would be able to do this without some difficulty , but we had a tiered system before lockdown that didn ’ t really work .
“ We ’ re in another tiered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it ’ s not doing the work that the Prime Minister promised it would do.
” Asked what alternative Labour would put in place , Starmer said : “ Well , we need restrictions in place and the bits that need mending most urgently are the messaging , because the messaging has been all over the place .
“ Work at home , don ’ t work at home ; go out to eat , don ’ t go out to eat ; enjoy Christmas , have a small Christmas .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The support for people who need to self-isolate has to improve .
Many people want to do the right thing but they don ’ t feel they can afford to take time off work… And businesses need better support.
” The Labour leader added : “ If you ’ re going to have restrictions , and we need restrictions , put the package around it that will actually make it work .
“ And the final bit is track , trace and isolate .
Crucial to the operation of any restrictions – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs fixing and fixing fast.
” Starmer also accused the Prime Minister of trying to “ shift the blame ” onto communities and individuals by changing the guidance around his Christmas Covid plans but rejecting calls to make a change in the law .
The Labour leader ’ s comments on the increased household mixing to be allowed between December 23rd and 27th followed the announcement from Boris Johnson on Wednesday that the easing of the rules would go ahead .
Starmer told viewers : “ The Prime Minister needs to show leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this because the numbers are heading in the wrong direction , the medical advice is that this could lead to real problems in January .
“ Instead of the Prime Minister stepping up himself and saying I ’ ll lead from the front , he ’ s effectively saying well , it ’ s over to you families and communities and trying , I think , to shift the blame to other people to take responsibility .
”

Keir Starmer has declared that the tiered system of restrictions to suppress the spread of coronavirus is “not strong enough to control the virus” and stressed the approach from the government “needs fixing and fixing fast”.
In a Sky News interview this afternoon, the Labour leader discussed the hierarchy of Covid regulations in place and commented on the first scheduled review of tier allocations unveiled by the Health Secretary this morning.
Starmer said: “My concern about the tier system is it’s just not strong enough to control the virus and we’ve been seeing the numbers going in the wrong direction across the country in the last seven days in particular.
“And there are real gaps in the system. I think, you know, there are many areas that are going to stay in Tier 3 and they will be asking themselves how on earth do we get out of this situation?”
Matt Hancock this morning told MPs in parliament that Tier 3, the most severe set of Covid restrictions involving the closure of hospitality, would now apply to many more areas from Saturday at one minute past midnight.
Tier 3 will apply to Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Peterborough, the whole of Hertfordshire, Surrey (with the exception of Waverley), Hastings and Rother on the Kent border of East Sussex, Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant in Hampshire.
Bristol and North Somerset will come out of Tier 3 and enter Tier 2 instead, while Herefordshire will enter Tier 1, Hancock said. But he added that “in most places, we are not there yet” in terms of moving down the scale.
On the challenge for businesses, Starmer argued this afternoon: “Many businesses are really worried about the constant chopping and changing because they adapt their business, sometimes then it’s ten or 14 days and it changes again…
“I’m not going to pretend that this is easy because we do need restrictions, and no government would be able to do this without some difficulty, but we had a tiered system before lockdown that didn’t really work.
“We’re in another tiered system, and it seems to me that it’s not doing the work that the Prime Minister promised it would do.”
Asked what alternative Labour would put in place, Starmer said: “Well, we need restrictions in place and the bits that need mending most urgently are the messaging, because the messaging has been all over the place.
“Work at home, don’t work at home; go out to eat, don’t go out to eat; enjoy Christmas, have a small Christmas. So, the messaging needs to improve.
“The support for people who need to self-isolate has to improve. Many people want to do the right thing but they don’t feel they can afford to take time off work… And businesses need better support.”
The Labour leader added: “If you’re going to have restrictions, and we need restrictions, put the package around it that will actually make it work.
“And the final bit is track, trace and isolate. Crucial to the operation of any restrictions – still not working properly. All that needs fixing and fixing fast.”
Starmer also accused the Prime Minister of trying to “shift the blame” onto communities and individuals by changing the guidance around his Christmas Covid plans but rejecting calls to make a change in the law.
The Labour leader’s comments on the increased household mixing to be allowed between December 23rd and 27th followed the announcement from Boris Johnson on Wednesday that the easing of the rules would go ahead.
Starmer told viewers: “The Prime Minister needs to show leadership and he’s been weak on this because the numbers are heading in the wrong direction, the medical advice is that this could lead to real problems in January.
“Instead of the Prime Minister stepping up himself and saying I’ll lead from the front, he’s effectively saying well, it’s over to you families and communities and trying, I think, to shift the blame to other people to take responsibility.”


labourlist--2020-12-18--The Excluded, the Forgotten, the Too-Complicated-To-Help? Here’s an idea

Economically speaking , they are the # Excluded , the # Forgotten and the # Too-Complicated-To-Help .
I am talking about the huge chunk of self-employed businesses and small company owners who have missed out on support during the Covid crisis .
These are businesses configured as limited liability companies : some 946,000 owner-director companies , 1.57 million micro businesses – companies turning over £632,000 or less and employing ten people or fewer – or around two million actively trading small companies who altogether employ around 7.5 million people .
The government has in place a scheme called the self-employed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it only supports self-employed workers and businesses that are not incorporated as limited companies .
If this sounds complicated , instead imagine two friends Hilary and Sam who , three years ago , both set up companies providing personal fitness training .
They both employ two other trainers and , generally speaking , make a profit of £20,000-£40,000 a year , out of which they pay themselves .
Hilary ’ s clients tend to be individuals ; she hasn ’ t incorporated her company , and just works as self-employed while employing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fitness training to companies that have insisted that he is incorporated as a limited company .
He pays himself from the profits , too , in the form of a dividends – some years are good , other years not so .
When Covid-19 hit the UK , both found that their staff could be furloughed , but the difference is that Hilary also received support through SEISS yet Sam did not receive any support at all because he had to operate through a limited company .
For those who do not know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – corporation tax when it is within the company – and then taxed a second time when it becomes the personal incomes of the shareholder .
These are not hedge fund owners receiving pay-outs , but small businesses paying themselves once they have covered the salaries of staff and covered their costs .
The same is true for freelancers who are owner-directors .
At the start of the pandemic , this issue about exclusion was raised many times by many people with the government .
HM Treasury and HMRC both threw their hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declaring that it was too difficult to properly identify limited companies such as Sam ’ s that needed help .
To their credit , they did appeal for help .
The issue for the Treasury is that they only want to support small businesses and the self-employed who are actively working and established .
They want to avoid fraud and non-trading companies or shell organisations that own assets .
And that is fair enough .
Fortunately , the call for help has been picked up by tax expert Rebecca Seeley Harris and supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FSB ) , Association of Chartered Certified Accountants ( ACCA ) and the campaign network # ForgottenUK .
Rebecca is one of the leading experts on employment status and tax , and advises many organisations that engage freelance workers .
She was a senior policy adviser to the Office of Tax Simplification .
She has taken forward the brief to help those directors of limited companies with a scheme – the directors ’ income support scheme ( DISS ) that : • is not open to abuse by non-trading companies ; and • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HMRC already has and will be simple to administer and set up .
The proposed scheme is based on the trading profits of the company , which are contained in the CT600 corporation tax return .
Any verification can be self-certified because , unlike the self-employed , the director of a limited company has certain duties in law .
The director would only be able to claim for one directorship in the entity in which they have the greatest income .
Directors who are active can be identified through Companies House returns .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is needed by directors that they intend to continue to trade and either : • are currently actively trading but , are ( or have been ) impacted by reduced demand due to coronavirus ; or • were previously trading but temporarily can not do so due to coronavirus .
As with SEISS , it will only be open to firms that made profits of £50,000 or less .
It is estimated that with eligible profits , directorship and ‘ persons with significant control ’ , eligibility would be at 70 % .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 70 % eligibility ( 2.8 million ) and 75 % take-up ( 2.1 million ) claiming an average £2,900 , the cost would be circa £6bn .
The alternative is that if these firms and these self-employed workers are not supported , their businesses face collapse and along with it future tax revenue .
We have reviewed this plan at Labour Business and think that it is a solid proposal .
We are in good company as ACCA and the FSB obviously think so too , and it has also been reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The grant will go into the company , and any monies taken by individuals will be subject to tax , so 20 % to 40 % of any monies spent will come back to the Treasury in any case .
The proposal is now sitting in an inbox in the Treasury .
Whether the government seriously wanted to help or not does not matter .
I hate to paraphrase a recent slogan , but there is an ‘ oven-ready deal ’ to help our small companies that meets the government ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are no politics here – just a workable solution .
It is suggested that the post-Covid recovery will be led by small businesses , as it was after the financial crash .
To have any chance of that taking place , we need to keep the tens of thousands of small businesses afloat .
I urge the government to support this proposed scheme .
I urge Labour MPs and our shadow teams to get behind it and save our small firms .
It is in our own best interests .

Economically speaking, they are the #Excluded, the #Forgotten and the #Too-Complicated-To-Help. I am talking about the huge chunk of self-employed businesses and small company owners who have missed out on support during the Covid crisis. These are businesses configured as limited liability companies: some 946,000 owner-director companies, 1.57 million micro businesses – companies turning over £632,000 or less and employing ten people or fewer – or around two million actively trading small companies who altogether employ around 7.5 million people. The government has in place a scheme called the self-employed income support scheme (SEISS), but it only supports self-employed workers and businesses that are not incorporated as limited companies.
If this sounds complicated, instead imagine two friends Hilary and Sam who, three years ago, both set up companies providing personal fitness training. They both employ two other trainers and, generally speaking, make a profit of £20,000-£40,000 a year, out of which they pay themselves. Hilary’s clients tend to be individuals; she hasn’t incorporated her company, and just works as self-employed while employing people. Sam, though, provides fitness training to companies that have insisted that he is incorporated as a limited company. He pays himself from the profits, too, in the form of a dividends – some years are good, other years not so.
When Covid-19 hit the UK, both found that their staff could be furloughed, but the difference is that Hilary also received support through SEISS yet Sam did not receive any support at all because he had to operate through a limited company. For those who do not know, tax is still paid on dividends – corporation tax when it is within the company – and then taxed a second time when it becomes the personal incomes of the shareholder. These are not hedge fund owners receiving pay-outs, but small businesses paying themselves once they have covered the salaries of staff and covered their costs. The same is true for freelancers who are owner-directors.
At the start of the pandemic, this issue about exclusion was raised many times by many people with the government. HM Treasury and HMRC both threw their hands up in the air in despair, declaring that it was too difficult to properly identify limited companies such as Sam’s that needed help. To their credit, they did appeal for help. The issue for the Treasury is that they only want to support small businesses and the self-employed who are actively working and established. They want to avoid fraud and non-trading companies or shell organisations that own assets. And that is fair enough.
Fortunately, the call for help has been picked up by tax expert Rebecca Seeley Harris and supported by the Federation of Small Business (FSB), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the campaign network #ForgottenUK. Rebecca is one of the leading experts on employment status and tax, and advises many organisations that engage freelance workers. She was a senior policy adviser to the Office of Tax Simplification. She has taken forward the brief to help those directors of limited companies with a scheme – the directors’ income support scheme (DISS) that:
creates parity with SEISS; and
is not open to abuse by non-trading companies; and
can use existing information and tools that HMRC already has and will be simple to administer and set up.
The proposed scheme is based on the trading profits of the company, which are contained in the CT600 corporation tax return. Any verification can be self-certified because, unlike the self-employed, the director of a limited company has certain duties in law. The director would only be able to claim for one directorship in the entity in which they have the greatest income. Directors who are active can be identified through Companies House returns. As for SEISS, an honest declaration is needed by directors that they intend to continue to trade and either:
are currently actively trading but, are (or have been) impacted by reduced demand due to coronavirus; or
were previously trading but temporarily cannot do so due to coronavirus.
As with SEISS, it will only be open to firms that made profits of £50,000 or less. It is estimated that with eligible profits, directorship and ‘persons with significant control’, eligibility would be at 70%. With an estimated four million directors, with 70% eligibility (2.8 million) and 75% take-up (2.1 million) claiming an average £2,900, the cost would be circa £6bn. The alternative is that if these firms and these self-employed workers are not supported, their businesses face collapse and along with it future tax revenue.
We have reviewed this plan at Labour Business and think that it is a solid proposal. We are in good company as ACCA and the FSB obviously think so too, and it has also been reported on extensively by the The Financial Times. The grant will go into the company, and any monies taken by individuals will be subject to tax, so 20% to 40% of any monies spent will come back to the Treasury in any case.
The proposal is now sitting in an inbox in the Treasury. Whether the government seriously wanted to help or not does not matter. I hate to paraphrase a recent slogan, but there is an ‘oven-ready deal’ to help our small companies that meets the government’s own criteria for a working scheme. There are no politics here – just a workable solution.
It is suggested that the post-Covid recovery will be led by small businesses, as it was after the financial crash. To have any chance of that taking place, we need to keep the tens of thousands of small businesses afloat. I urge the government to support this proposed scheme. I urge Labour MPs and our shadow teams to get behind it and save our small firms. It is in our own best interests.


labourlist--2020-12-18--GMB official Drew Smith appointed as Scottish Labour acting general secretary

Drew Smith , a former MSP and current GMB official , has been appointed today as Scottish Labour ’ s acting general secretary after Michael Sharpe announced earlier this week that he was quitting the top post .
Sharpe revealed on Monday that he was resigning ahead of Scottish parliamentary elections taking place in May next year as he could not “ give my young family and the party I love the commitment that they each deserve ” .
The party has now picked Smith to replace Sharpe on an interim basis until the elections in May .
The Scottish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Glasgow region from 2011 to 2016 , will take up his post on January 4th .
Smith was Scottish Labour ’ s frontbench spokesperson on social justice during his time in the Scottish parliament .
He currently works as GMB Scotland ’ s policy and external affairs officer and has represented the union on Labour ’ s Scottish executive committee .
Commenting on his appointment , Smith said : “ 2021 is both an important and fast-approaching election for Scotland and for the Labour Party .
The events of the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important it is that the voices of working people are heard in Scottish politics .
“ The campaign ahead is our chance to take our message to the people of Scotland , but also for all of the talented and committed people already in our party to be included and to get involved .
“ Working together , I believe we can see our party growing again and I will also work hard to again make Scottish Labour a welcoming place for all who share our values.
” Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to working with Drew to gear up the party for next year ’ s election .
He is an experienced campaigner and widely respected across the labour movement .
“ Together we will ensure that we have a positive and distinctive Scottish Labour message to take to the people of Scotland .
I am delighted that he has agreed to take up this post .
“ Now more than ever we need a Scottish parliament and Scottish government which is dedicated to tackling the public health crisis and the jobs and economic crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know that we will work well together in the battle to win Labour votes and Labour seats in the 135 days between now and the election.
” David Evans , general secretary of the UK Labour Party , added : “ I want to congratulate Drew on his appointment as acting general secretary .
Drew brings years of experience to this important role and he is widely respected throughout our movement .
“ Drew knows exactly what it takes to return Labour to power in Scotland and bring an end to the years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to working with him on the planning of the Scottish parliament election .
”

Drew Smith, a former MSP and current GMB official, has been appointed today as Scottish Labour’s acting general secretary after Michael Sharpe announced earlier this week that he was quitting the top post.
Sharpe revealed on Monday that he was resigning ahead of Scottish parliamentary elections taking place in May next year as he could not “give my young family and the party I love the commitment that they each deserve”.
The party has now picked Smith to replace Sharpe on an interim basis until the elections in May. The Scottish Labour politician, who served as MSP for the Glasgow region from 2011 to 2016, will take up his post on January 4th.
Smith was Scottish Labour’s frontbench spokesperson on social justice during his time in the Scottish parliament. He currently works as GMB Scotland’s policy and external affairs officer and has represented the union on Labour’s Scottish executive committee.
Commenting on his appointment, Smith said: “2021 is both an important and fast-approaching election for Scotland and for the Labour Party. The events of the last year have shown more than ever how important it is that the voices of working people are heard in Scottish politics.
“The campaign ahead is our chance to take our message to the people of Scotland, but also for all of the talented and committed people already in our party to be included and to get involved.
“Working together, I believe we can see our party growing again and I will also work hard to again make Scottish Labour a welcoming place for all who share our values.”
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: “I am looking forward to working with Drew to gear up the party for next year’s election. He is an experienced campaigner and widely respected across the labour movement.
“Together we will ensure that we have a positive and distinctive Scottish Labour message to take to the people of Scotland. I am delighted that he has agreed to take up this post.
“Now more than ever we need a Scottish parliament and Scottish government which is dedicated to tackling the public health crisis and the jobs and economic crisis which the country faces.
“I know that we will work well together in the battle to win Labour votes and Labour seats in the 135 days between now and the election.”
David Evans, general secretary of the UK Labour Party, added: “I want to congratulate Drew on his appointment as acting general secretary. Drew brings years of experience to this important role and he is widely respected throughout our movement.
“Drew knows exactly what it takes to return Labour to power in Scotland and bring an end to the years of nationalist misrule. I look forward to working with him on the planning of the Scottish parliament election.”


labourlist--2020-12-18--Labour’s action plan, teachers under pressure and a Brexit deal en route?

Labour released the action plan sent to the Equality and Human Rights Commission yesterday , after sending it to the equality body earlier this month and now having secured approval for the document .
Delivery of this plan was legally required , but publication of it was not , and such transparency is very welcome .
It begins with words from Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner , reiterating their commitment to tackling antisemitism .
As LabourList reported would be the case , the action plan does not go into detail about exactly what the party ’ s new independent complaints @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are other interesting features .
The EHRC submission commits Labour to having the new disciplinary system “ up and running ” by December 10th next year , which recognises that an overhaul requires a rule change , and this in turn requires a conference .
( As I ’ ve noted before , those close to the leadership were not keen on a special interim conference : partly due to the ongoing pandemic ; partly due to concerns around recalling delegates from 2019 . )
While Labour is being allowed to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system , the plan specifies that “ independent elements ” will be implemented sooner .
And an advisory board of Jewish stakeholders will “ act as a sounding board ” on reforms .
Read my write-up for further details and the plan in full here .
It has also emerged that the government not only took an absurdly aggressive approach in response to slightly early school closures in areas with the highest infection rates – ministers have now announced on the last full day of term that mass testing will have to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Schools minister Nick Gibbs has denied that teachers will be responsible for administering the tests , as “ volunteers ” will do them .
Guidance will be sent next week , apparently , to which Wes Streeting asks : “ When ?
Christmas Day ?
!
” .
The shadow minister adds : “ Who will be recruiting these volunteers ?
How will safeguarding checks be undertaken before these volunteers are sent into schools ?
” Another mess , putting frontline workers under unnecessary additional pressure .
The EU ’ s Michel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ just a few hours left ” to agree a post-Brexit trade deal .
If one is agreed by the weekend , the Commons is expected to be recalled on Monday , allowing the necessary legislation to be passed before Christmas .
We have learnt to take claims around interim Brexit deadlines with a bucket of salt , however .
Some Brexiteers reckon – or hope , because they think it will make for a better deal – that a bill will go through parliament after Christmas and before New Year ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pause over the festive period – but if MPs return to vote on a deal , we will be back in your inboxes .
I also hear Starmer will be giving a constitutional convention speech on Monday , and we will be covering that too unless it is delayed again .
Have a lovely break .
Sign up to LabourList ’ s morning email for everything Labour , every weekday morning .

Labour released the action plan sent to the Equality and Human Rights Commission yesterday, after sending it to the equality body earlier this month and now having secured approval for the document. Delivery of this plan was legally required, but publication of it was not, and such transparency is very welcome. It begins with words from Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner, reiterating their commitment to tackling antisemitism. As LabourList reported would be the case, the action plan does not go into detail about exactly what the party’s new independent complaints process will look like; however, there are other interesting features.
The EHRC submission commits Labour to having the new disciplinary system “up and running” by December 10th next year, which recognises that an overhaul requires a rule change, and this in turn requires a conference. (As I’ve noted before, those close to the leadership were not keen on a special interim conference: partly due to the ongoing pandemic; partly due to concerns around recalling delegates from 2019.) While Labour is being allowed to take a year to set up a new system, the plan specifies that “independent elements” will be implemented sooner. And an advisory board of Jewish stakeholders will “act as a sounding board” on reforms. Read my write-up for further details and the plan in full here.
It has also emerged that the government not only took an absurdly aggressive approach in response to slightly early school closures in areas with the highest infection rates – ministers have now announced on the last full day of term that mass testing will have to be put in place for their January return. Schools minister Nick Gibbs has denied that teachers will be responsible for administering the tests, as “volunteers” will do them. Guidance will be sent next week, apparently, to which Wes Streeting asks: “When? Christmas Day?!”. The shadow minister adds: “Who will be recruiting these volunteers? How will safeguarding checks be undertaken before these volunteers are sent into schools?” Another mess, putting frontline workers under unnecessary additional pressure.
The EU’s Michel Barnier has declared this morning that there “just a few hours left” to agree a post-Brexit trade deal. If one is agreed by the weekend, the Commons is expected to be recalled on Monday, allowing the necessary legislation to be passed before Christmas. We have learnt to take claims around interim Brexit deadlines with a bucket of salt, however. Some Brexiteers reckon – or hope, because they think it will make for a better deal – that a bill will go through parliament after Christmas and before New Year’s Eve. Our LabourList morning briefing will pause over the festive period – but if MPs return to vote on a deal, we will be back in your inboxes. I also hear Starmer will be giving a constitutional convention speech on Monday, and we will be covering that too unless it is delayed again. Have a lovely break. Sign up to LabourList’s morning email for everything Labour, every weekday morning.