Court of Appeal has today rejected the government's appeal of a High Court ruling over the legality of back-to-work schemes - Owen Smith reaction

Owen Smith MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on news that the Court of Appeal has today rejected the government’s appeal of a High Court ruling over the legality of back-to-work schemes, said:

“The Tories are now running up quite the track record of losing court cases in a vain attempt to defend the callous mess they have made of the social security system.  This time failing to defend their so called ‘back-to-work’ scheme, which is a shocking example of badly made policy that has also been ineffective in getting people in to jobs.

“Stephen Crabb’s department is clearly out of control, as the DWP is becoming ever more deeply embroiled in costly and ineffective legal disputes.  This latest decision comes on top of a string of successful legal challenges to flagship Tory policies, including the Bedroom Tax and the benefit cap, both of which were ruled as discriminatory.  While the courts also forced the DWP to come clean and publish a deeply damaging risk register showing the failures that have undermined the roll out of Universal Credit.

“Today’s decision also provides yet more clear evidence that the Tories sanctions policy is completely failing and needs to be totally overhauled.”

Jeremy Corbyn launches action plan on tackling anti-Semitism and other forms of racism

Jeremy Corbyn MP, Labour Leader, today announced he will be proposing a new code of conduct on anti-semitism and other forms of racism to Labour’s national executive committee next month. This will make explicitly clear for the first time that the Labour will not tolerate any form of racism, including anti-semitism, in the party. It will include initial guidance on acceptable behaviour and use of language.

 He will also announce the establishment of an inquiry into anti-semitism and other forms of racism, to be chaired by the former director of Liberty Shami Chakrabarti. The vice-chair will be Professor David Feldman, director of the Pears Institute for the Study of Anti-Semitism. The inquiry, which will report in two months, will consult widely with the Jewish community and other minority representatives about a statement of principles and guidance about anti-semitism and other forms of racism, including Islamophobia; guidance about the boundaries of acceptable behaviour and language; clear and transparent compliance procedures for dealing with allegations of racism and anti-semitism; training programmes for parliamentary candidates, MPs, councillors and others; recommendations for changes to the code of conduct and party rules if necessary; and action to ensure Labour is a welcoming environment for members of all communities. 

The recommendations of the inquiry led by Baroness Royall into the Oxford University Labour Club and other issues will feed into this wider inquiry.

Jeremy Corbyn MP, Leader of the Labour Party, said:

“Labour is an anti-racist party to its core and has a long and proud history of standing against racism, including anti-semitism. I have campaigned against racism all my life and the Jewish community has been at the heart of the Labour party and progressive politics in Britain for more than a hundred years.

“We have taken decisive action over allegations of anti-semitism since I became  leader, suspending all those involved from membership, and have set up an inquiry under Baroness Royall into reports of anti-semitism in the Oxford University Labour club and elsewhere.

“I am now proposing to Labour’s national executive committee that it adopts a code of conduct on anti-semitism and other forms of racism, and establishing an inquiry into tackling anti-semitism and other forms of racism under the former director of Liberty Shami Chakrabarti.

 “There is no place for anti-semitism or any form of racism in the Labour party, or anywhere in society, and we will make sure that our party is a welcoming home to members of all communities.”