SUPPORTERS of Jeremy Corbyn have raised £200,000 to cover the cost of an expected legal battle with a BBC journalist behind a damning exposure of antisemitism in the Labour Party.
On Monday, it is believed the party paid out around £370,000 to seven whistleblowers who took part in the Panorama documentary.
They also withdrew “all allegations of bad faith, malice and lying” and the “distress, embarrassment and hurt” caused by a 3000-word
press release sent out by the party before the broadcast of the documentary questioning the motives of those involved.
Labour also agreed to pay damages to Panorama reporter John Ware over “defamatory and false” allegations made against him.
Corbyn was unhappy at the move. In a statement, he said: “The party’s decision to apologise today and make substantial payments to former staff who sued the party in relation to last year’s Panorama programme is a political decision, not a legal one.”
And he warned: “Our legal advice was that the party had a strong defence, and the evidence in the leaked Labour report that is now the subject of an NEC inquiry led by Martin Forde QC strengthened concerns about the role played by some of those who took part in the programme.”
That statement prompted Ware and several of the whistleblowers to instruct the libel lawyer Mark Lewis to pursue claims against the former Labour leader.
The fundraising page urges supporters to hand over cash to help the veteran MP: “The relentless attacks on Mr Corbyn, a man of integrity, honesty and humility cannot be allowed to continue and we have an opportunity here to offer him support in a practical way.
“It will also let him know that his supporters have not forgotten him, nor have they gone away.”
While Corbyn has not commented directly on the campaign, the organiser of the fundraiser, Carole Morgan, said his office had been in contact with her to say he was “deeply touched by this outpouring of love and support”.
“Far too many injustices have, and are being levelled at Jeremy that I have no doubt that this fund will help support him in what he is facing,” she said
Reports yesterday suggested the party now faces at least 32 further civil claims and a legal bill in the millions.
Many of the cases, which are being handled by two law firms, are understood to relate to a leaked internal report on the party’s handling of antisemitism and centre on allegations of data-privacy breaches and libel.
The report was due to be submitted to an inquiry by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission into Labour’s handling of antisemitism complaints.
It blames former Labour officials for hampering efforts to tackle abuse and accuses them of sabotaging efforts to win the 2017 election.
However, according to a former legal chief in the party, the report included WhatsApp messages, emails and texts from staff which were seemingly compiled using unauthorised email searches.
It also reportedly presents the messages selectively and without their true context
Among those taking action is Iain McNicol, a former Labour general secretary.
It is understood that senior Labour officials have warned the potential payouts could amount to “several million pounds”.
One Labour frontbencher told The Telegraph: “We’re paying the price with money that could be used serving the public.”
A second shadow cabinet minister added: “This is the Corbyn legacy. People should be angry.”
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