(JTA) — An investigation of Oxford University’s Labour Club has concluded the group is not anti-Semitic but faces “difficulties” that need addressing.
Janet Royall, a British Labour politician, wrote in a report to the party’s National Executive Committee on Tuesday that as a result of her review of the club she would be making 11 recommendations for “immediate and sustained action,” London’s Jewish Chronicle reported.
Commenting on Labour anti-Semitism outside the Oxford club, Royall said party members found guilty of anti-Semitism should not be banned for life. She also said the party should conduct a wider review of anti-Semitism among its membership and adopt a definition of anti-Semitic speech.
Some 20 Labour members have been suspended from the party in recent months for making anti-Semitic or anti-Israel remarks.
Royall said the party’s national complaints unit needs to be given adequate resources to “deal effectively with complaints of anti-Semitism.”
According to the Jewish Chronicle, Royall’s report did not say whether alleged anti-Semitic incidents at Oxford actually took place.
She also advised “more rigorous vetting procedures” for selecting local and national Labour candidates.
Royall’s inquiry was set up after the co-chair of the student group quit in February and claimed colleagues “have some kind of problem with Jews.”
John Mann, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism, told the Chronicle: “For those who thought there wasn’t an anti-Semitism issue in the Labour Party, this report shows there definitely is.”
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