The Labour Party has been sent a full draft of a long-awaited anti-semitism report from the UK’s human rights watchdog.
Party officials confirmed they had received the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) report following a 14-month inquiry, focusing on the party under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.
“It is sent in confidence by the EHRC, so until that process is completed, it would be inappropriate to comment on any of the contents of the draft report – and we will not do so,” the party said in a statement.
“Tackling anti-Semitism within the Labour Party is a priority and we are determined to take the further action necessary to begin restoring trust with the Jewish community.
“We are committed to cooperating fully with the commission’s investigation and implementing its recommendations when the final report is published.”
Under the Equality Act 2010, the subject of an investigation by the commission must be given at least 28 days in order to make representations of its findings before the final report is released.
But the sending of the draft means the landmark report is a step closer.
Labour staff were reportedly warned by general secretary David Evans not to leak the report until the final version is published.
He wrote in an internal email: "Anti-Semitism has been a stain on our party in recent years.
“It has caused unacceptable and unimaginable levels of grief and distress for many in the Jewish community, as well as members of staff.
"...Until the final report is published, I am requesting that staff do not comment on the arrival of the draft report - or any matter pertaining to the Commission's investigation - including on social media."
The EHRC launched its landmark inquiry in May 2019 following persistent allegations of anti-Semitism under former leader Jeremy Corbyn.
The British National Party is the only other UK political party to have been probed by the human rights watchdog.
Last month Mr Corbyn claimed the EHRC had been deliberately underfunded by Tory ministers “to take away its independent status and make it part of the government machine”.
His successor Sir Keir Starmer has made tackling the issue and rebuilding trust with the Jewish community a top priority of his leadership.
Last month a leaked 860-page dossier claimed opposition to Jeremy Corbyn among Labour staff hindered efforts to tackle the issue, but was criticised as an attempt to “smear whistleblowers”.
Sir Keir Starmer set a mid-July deadline to conclude an internal National Executive Committee investigation into how the report, understood to have been an advisory for the EHRC probe, was commissioned and leaked.
An EHRC spokeswoman said: "The draft document has been shared with the Labour Party as part of a formal legal process.
"We will not be commenting any further as the investigation is ongoing."
