Exclusive: Jewish left-winger wins case against Labour ‘antisemitism’ expulsion but stays out anyway

Freedom from ‘secretive, unscrupulous’ party and its treacherous leadership is ‘liberating’, says exonerated ex-member

A Jewish former Labour party member has won his appeal against the party’s decision to expel him for supposed ‘antisemitism’ – but has found his freedom from the ‘secretive, unscrupulous’ organisation so liberating that he is not going back.

The man, who is not being named, has been exonerated by Labour’s ‘Independent Complaints Board’ (ICB) in a damning finding that concludes the party is still ignoring the 2020 findings of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which criticised Labour’s lack of transparency, shoddy processes and disregard for evidence.

The result is even more damning in light of the fact that Keir Starmer gave pro-Israel groups a veto over who can sit on the ‘independent’ ICB and left-wing Jewish groups have been excluded.

The party’s so-called ‘investigation’ began in 2020, with an expulsion notice in 2022 giving no details except a claim that it was for ‘antisemitism’. However, the ICB concluded that the investigation was a sham that gave no meaningful justification for the party’s claims that its victim had posted anything antisemitic, instead concluding that there was no engagement by the party with the submissions made by the accused:

neither the Investigation Report nor the NEC Panel decision provided detailed analysis of why the post were considered antisemitic in the context of explanations [the victim] had provided.

The ICB went on to note that Labour gave no rationale for its decision and proceeded without real evidence:

the posts were not so obviously or inherently antisemitic as to justify the conclusions of the NEC Panel without further analysis or explanation… [and without] sufficient evidence in documentary or other recorded form to reasonably conclude that the charge is proven and justify [sic] the sanction proposed. 

Jenny Manson, co-chair of Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL) said that the Labour party should now require the ICB to review every single expulsion or suspension on the grounds of so-called ‘antisemitism, which has long been weaponised against Labour’s many left-wing Jews, amounting to discriminatory and antisemitic targeting:

Our long experience of the ‘antisemitism’ allegations ‘investigated’ by the LP has made it clear that in the vast majority of  cases there was no antisemitism and not a trace of a professional investigation. 

Also it is arguably particularly painful, many would say utterly bizarre and perverse, for a Jew to be accused of antisemitism.   We think of the real antisemitism we and our families have experienced and find it hard to express what this turning of the weapon back on ourselves feels like, but it is very much like antisemitism.

The stats suggest the Party has a particular problem with Jews like us;  For instance we calculate that Jewish members of the LP are nearly ten times more likely than non Jewish members  to be expelled from the Party in relation to antisemitism allegations.  In relation to JVL Jewish members, where we can be more sure of the figures, this rises to 53 times more likely to be expelled.

“Starmer’s leadership brought betrayal after betrayal, disappointment on disappointment, so it was no loss to be free of it.”

The exonerated member has welcomed the ICB decision but told Skwawkbox that he finds freedom from the authoritarianism and disregard for justice of Labour under Keir Starmer ‘liberating’:

The Independent Complaints Board (ICB) panel states in 2025 that the party has failed to show how my posts have been found to be antisemitic, and that there is a complete lack of clarity or transparency in how their decision was reached. The 2020 EHRC report into Labour’s handling of complaints of antisemitism made exactly the same point, as did previous inquiries dating back to 2016. So the party seems to have learned almost nothing in the last 10 years, maybe the arrival of the ICB excepted. 

Or is the party rather demonstrating intransigence and dogmatism because of the interests that have driven the whole antisemitism campaign? Is it sticking rigidly to the flawed and mis-applied IHRA ‘working definition’ of antisemitism (with its justly discredited examples) because that has been imposed on it by lobbying pressure? That would surely lead to poor judgement and failures of explanation. I only surmise because no explanation has been given. The party prefers its cloak of secrecy, perhaps to conceal the true extent of its ignorance and uncertainty in the matter. 

I still do not know who made the complaint against me.  This typifies the one-sided nature of the process, in which I was compelled to refrain from talking about the investigation under threat of disciplinary action, I was given very short periods in which to make my case, I was not told who would be considering it, or whether my contributions had even been read. Until the ICB’s decision letter arrived last month I did not know that an appeal was even being heard! The party’s sole gesture in terms of showing me any duty of care as a member (during the investigation I was deemed innocent until proven guilty) was to suggest I seek medical help for anxiety and counselling from the Samaritans!

Anxiety and thoughts of suicide were fortunately not among my reactions. Initially I was deeply offended but also incredulous at the absurdity of the charges. There was stress, certainly, in meeting the deadlines imposed while trying to defend myself. I had to write thousands of words to make my responses, and I resented the time and effort that took. It was deeply frustrating not to be able to talk to people about the matter, and to be forced to engage a secretive, unscrupulous and powerful opponent. ‘Byzantine’ and ‘Kafka-esque’ might be a little grandiose but not far wide of the mark. 

I also sustained some reputational damage once the expulsion came through and it became public knowledge. Local political opponents within the Labour party made no secret of their pleasure at my expulsion and a minor amount of trolling occurred on social media. Fortunately a larger number of friends and allies declared their disbelief at the charge of antisemitism and at the stupidity, as we all saw it, of the party. I was also, and still am, heartened by contact with other Jews who have had similar experiences, for example among JVL. 

The ICB Panel’s decision has brought a measure of satisfaction that my representations have been respected at last and the original allegations are unproven. I wait, probably in vain, for an apology. 

The expulsion was of course liberating for me. Labour had long ceased to be my political home and now I am free to say whatever I wish without trying to remain acceptable within the party machine. Starmer’s leadership brought betrayal after betrayal, disappointment on disappointment, so it was no loss to be free of it. 

While antisemitism was the nominal charge made against me my real offence was to criticise Israel and support for Israel, in its oppression of the Palestinians. Of course since October 7th 2023 my position has strengthened while those on the pro-Israeli wing find it ever more difficult to justify their support for genocide. It is glaringly obvious to me that there can never be peace for Israel without a just peace for the Palestinians and that is where my political energies are mainly directed. 

A number of unjustly targeted Jewish members have died before seeing justice. JVL’s Jenny Manson added:

Tragically. Michael Howard and Riva Joffe, both Jews with a life long history of countering racism and antisemitism died before unjust and deeply wounding accusations of antisemitism were dismissed.

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