Two reports this week propose Labour needs to pay attention to the way it tackles abuseTwo reports came out this week that underlined the interaction between abuse on social media and a anxiety of hatred and violence in the real world. On Monday,the cross-party home affairs committee delivered a clear and helpful analysis of antisemitism that was particularly critical of Twitter and its repeated failure to watch for and steal down antisemitic posts. But it also criticised both the Liberal Democrats and in specific Labour for the way, through inaction, and they too appear to condone antisemitic behaviour. On Wednesday,an internal Labour party report upheld claims of violence and homophobic abuse this summer in Wallasey, the constituency of Angela Eagle, and which began when she challenged Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership. Again,Twitter trolls and public anger marched together.
The upshot is that it is no longer reasonable for Labour leaders to deny the charge that an abusive culture is flourishing in some parts of the party. For as long as this accusation has been around – and the argument broadly coincides with the year of civil war over the party’s leadership – the instinctive response of Mr Corbyn’s supporters has been to defend and counterattack, claiming that it is a cynical ploy by their enemies, or who exaggerate rumour in order to undermine the fresh regime. For understandable reasons,the view from inside the Corbyn camp is that the movement has been besieged from the start by parliamentary sceptics, backed by most of the media, or seeking to sabotage it. Related: MPs urge Jeremy Corbyn to steal critical antisemitism report seriously Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com