In a first, Labour Party admits it defamed BBC journalist, former staffers

London: Labour leader Keir Starmer and his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn are on course for an ugly public showdown following an unprecedented admission that the party had defamed a prominent BBC journalist and seven staffers who blew the whistle on anti-Semitism.

Starmer, a former director of public prosecutions who took over after the opposition's thumping 2019 election defeat, on Wednesday declared Labour was "under new management" amid the escalating clash with Corbyn and his hard-Left supporters.

Earlier, Labour revealed it would pay damages to seven former staffers who broke non-disclosure agreements to appear on the BBC's Panorama program to raise serious concerns over how the party handled complaints about anti-Semitic conduct.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has blasted his successor for awarding damages to a BBC journalist and seven former staffers. Credit: PA

Labour released a statement before the episode went to air in mid-2019 labelling the whistleblowers "disaffected former staff" with "personal and political axes to grind".

Labour also attacked Panorama journalist John Ware before and after the episode, accusing the journalist of "deliberate and malicious misrepresentations designed to mislead the public".

The party on Wednesday said it would pay damages and court costs - estimated to total more than £600,000 ($1 million) - to Ware and the former staffers of Labour's governance and legal unit who had all launched legal action.

New Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to restore the trust of the Jewish community.Credit: Getty Images

Labour agreed each claimant had been defamed in the Corbyn-era attempt to discredit them and minimise the impact of the Panorama expose. It also read out a lengthy statement to the High Court apologising for the affair.

It is thought to be the first time a political party has admitted to defaming former staff and a journalist.

"We unreservedly withdraw all allegations of bad faith, malice and lying," the party said in the statement.

"Anti-Semitism has been a stain on Labour 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.

"If we are to restore the trust of the Jewish community, we must demonstrate a change of leadership. That means being open, transparent and respecting the right of whistleblowers."

Corbyn hit back and labelled the awarding of damages "a political decision, not a legal one". The former leader claimed to have seen legal advice that the party had a strong defence against the lawsuits.

"The decision to settle these claims in this way is disappointing, and risks giving credibility to misleading and inaccurate allegations about action taken to tackle anti-Semitism in the Labour Party in recent years," he said.

The outspoken defence will undermine Starmer's attempts to repair relations with the Jewish community and puts pressure on the new leader to discipline his predecessor.

Corbyn's opposition to the settlement has also infuriated the veteran journalist Ware, who has instructed his lawyers to examine potential fresh legal action against Corbyn personally.

"I can confirm that I have been instructed to pursue cases," said Mark Lewis from Patron Law.

Ware said he was subjected to a tsunami of abuse after the Labour attacks and had no choice but to defend his reputation in the now-settled court case.

"It was an unwritten code amongst we journalists that we don't sue because free speech is sacrosanct, but the world has changed thanks to social media," he said.

"You either accept and shrug your shoulders when people call you a liar and say you fabricated evidence and deliberately promoted falsehoods - as the Labour Party did - or you decide to do something about it. So I decided to do something about it."

A BBC spokesperson said the broadcaster supported fair and impartial reporting and the exposing of wrongdoing.

"The Panorama program did precisely that, but was subject to an extraordinary and vitriolic attack by the Labour Party," the spokesperson said.

"We welcome today's long overdue apology to John Ware and the seven Panorama whistleblowers, who have been subjected to painful and damaging personal attacks on their integrity and character.

"We applaud their strength to take this case forward and are pleased it has been recognised in court that these extremely serious and damaging allegations against them were false and have been unreservedly withdrawn."

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is investigating Labour's handling of a raft of anti-Semitism allegations.