A former Labour MP who left the get together 4 years in the past over antisemitism underneath Jeremy Corbyn has rejoined.
Luciana Berger, who’s Jewish, give up the get together in February 2019, saying she couldn’t “remain in a party that I have today come to the sickening conclusion is institutionally antisemitic”.
But Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer revealed Ms Berger, the Liverpool Wavertree MP from 2010 to 2019, had accepted his invitation to rejoin Labour.
“My test for change was whether those who were rightly appalled by how far we had fallen believe this is their party again,” he tweeted.
“I know we’ve more to do but we’re unrecognisable from the party that forced her out.”
Sir Keir shared pictures of the letter he had despatched to Ms Berger apologising to her “again on behalf of the whole party” for the “disgusting” antisemitic abuse she acquired whereas Mr Corbyn was chief.
He stated she had been “forced out by intimidation, thuggery and racism” in a “stain on Labour’s history” and invited her again to the get together.
Ms Berger misplaced her seat after becoming a member of the fledgling get together Change UK, then later the Liberal Democrats.
In her reply to Sir Keir, Ms Berger stated: “I’m wanting ahead to rejoining the get together and dealing with you to proceed what you will have began.
“It is time to replace this reckless and divisive government and ultimately make the difference our country so desperately deserves.”
Labour ‘fell into the depths of the abyss’ underneath Corbyn
Ms Berger stated she was “pleased” with the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s resolution to now not monitor the get together over antisemitism, however added: “As you [Sir Keir] have rightly said, this is not a moment for celebration and there is a great deal more to do.”
She claimed the get together “fell into the depths of the abyss under Jeremy Corbyn’s reign”.
“I never expected to bear witness to the volume and toxicity of anti-Jewish racism espoused by people who had been allowed to join Labour, and to experience a leadership that treated antisemitism within the party’s ranks differently to every other kind of racism – and that by refusing to condemn it, encouraged it,” she stated.
“But that is exactly what happened.”
Sir Keir wrote: “Before you were forced out of the party, you were an outstanding Member of Parliament.”
He stated the get together and British politics are “poorer places” with out her, and apologised to her for the “intolerable and unacceptable” expertise she had.
“The abuse you suffered was disgusting. You were left isolated and exposed. Shamefully, those who should have defended you stood by.
“The Labour Party – our get together – has all the time prided itself on being a celebration of equality, collectivism, solidarity and anti-racism.
“But during those dark days we were none of those things.”
Her return was applauded by a number of from the get together hierarchy, together with shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves who tweeted: “So pleased to have you back, Luciana.”
Peter Kyle, the get together’s Northern Ireland spokesman, tweeted: “An emotional and healing moment. The Labour Party and Luciana…friends finally reunited. I’m grateful to @Keir_Starmer for making this possible, and in awe of @lucianaberger’s strength and compassion for giving us this precious second chance. Labour has changed for the better.”
Margaret Hodge, one other of Labour’s critics of Mr Corbyn, stated on Twitter: “Welcome back Luciana! It’s so important that those who were pushed out of the Labour Party because of vile antisemitism now feel able to return to their political home. We’ve come so far. Labour is proudly an outward looking, tolerant & inclusive party once again.”
Jewish Labour Movement added: “Our former Parliamentary Chair @lucianaberger is a hero of the Labour Movement. What happened to her under Corbyn’s leadership was a disgrace and she showed immense bravery. That she feels now is the time to rejoin shows the party is on the right track.”
Starmer guidelines out Corbyn standing for Labour at subsequent election
Marking the EHRC’s resolution to now not monitor the get together for antisemitism, Sir Keir dominated out permitting Jeremy Corbyn to face as a Labour candidate within the subsequent basic election.
The human rights watchdog in 2020 discovered the get together broke equality regulation over its dealing with of antisemitic complaints.
Mr Corbyn rejected among the report’s findings and claimed the difficulty had been “dramatically overstated for political reasons” – feedback which led to Labour’s headquarters suspending him from the get together.
Ms Berger joined the board of on-line used-car retailer Cazoo in August 2021 as chair of its environmental, social and governance (ESG) committee.
Source: information.sky.com”