Labour makes aide engulfed in anti-Semitism crisis the party’s head of complaints

JEREMY Corbyn sparked outrage yesterday by appointing an aide engulfed by the party’s anti-Semitism crisis as the new head of complaints.

Laura Murray – who allegedly intervened to stop the suspension of a Labour member later arrested by police over anti-Semitism– was given the permanent role yesterday.

The appointment sparked fury among Jewish Labour MPs.

Dame Margaret Hodge, who lost family in the Holocaust, said: “It is both mad and deeply insulting.

“Meddling in complaints by the Leader’s office has already been exposed.

“This decision only reaffirms why I have absolutely no trust in the existing complaints process.

“We must have an independent system now.”

Labour MP Ruth Smeeth said: “Whilst I’m reluctant to comment on Labour Party staff appointments, I’m astonished that anyone would consider it sensible to appoint a member of Jeremy Corbyn’s inner circle to the position of Head of Complaints.

“We have been calling for transparency and independence in the complaints and disputes process in order to rebuild trust with Jewish members and the wider Jewish community.

“Appointing someone who has recently been accused of political interference in the complaints process beggars belief.

“This is yet another slap in the face to those of us who want to fix the issue of anti-Jewish hate in the Labour Party.”

Ms Murray is the daughter of Mr Corbyn’s righthand man Andrew Murray – a former Communist and senior Unite official.

'DEEPLY INSULTING'

The move comes after a cache of leaked Labour emails appeared to show Ms Murray intervened to block the suspension of activists including Patricia Sheerin.

Ms Sheerin, 72, was later arrested over inciting racial hatred against Jews.

Labour officials tried to boot Ms Sheerin out in March last year over posts alleging links between Israel and ISIS and another claiming Jewish groups fomented the Ukrainian revolution.

But in an email leaked to The Sunday Times, Ms Murray said they should “investigate but without suspension”.

She also emailed to help block the immediate suspension of another woman who defended a notorious anti-Semitic mural showing hook-nosed men sitting around a Monopoly board.

A Labour spokesman said: “We don’t comment on staffing matters.”

They added: “Since becoming general secretary, Jennie Formby has made procedures for dealing with complaints about antisemitism more robust.

“Staff who work on disciplinary matters have always led on investigations and recommendations on individual cases.

“Any suggestion that staff in the leader’s office overturned recommendations on individual cases is categorically untrue.”

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