Nine black Labour MPs have said the delay in publishing the Forde inquiry risks giving black members and supporters the impression that the party does not take racism seriously. In a statement circulated on Friday, the MPs, among them two shadow cabinet ministers, said they were “disappointed and seriously concerned” by the indefinite delay to the inquiry, which is being withheld over concerns it could prejudice an investigation by the information commissioner. Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, appointed Martin Forde QC last May to investigate the leak of an unredacted report into the party’s complaints process. The report included details of alleged conversations between party officials about black MPs that were condemned as racist and led to a backlash among black Labour supporters.
Detractors say it is unclear why Forde has waited until now, 10 months after the information commissioner was informed of the data breach and seven months after the report was initially due to be delivered, to warn of the risk of prejudicing the external investigation. “The possibility of a racist culture and a hostile environment for black members within the party needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency and the Forde inquiry is an important tool for doing just that,” the MPs said. The signatories to the statement were Marsha de Cordova, the shadow women and equalities secretary, Chi Onwurah, the shadow science minister, and the MPs Diane Abbott, Dawn Butler, Florence Eshalomi, Kim Johnson, Clive Lewis, Kate Osamor and Bell Ribeiro-Addy. The Guardian understands they are pushing for a meeting with Starmer to present their concerns. One signatory said: “The fact that so many black MPs signed points to the fact that people are increasingly fed up with the leadership line on race generally, and their crude attempts to kick the Forde inquiry into the long grass in particular.” The MPs said that fears of prejudicing the information commissioner’s investigation must be weighed against the importance of addressing members’ concerns about racism. They called for the release of parts of the report not relating to the leak “but to the prevailing culture in the party”.
“Delaying the Forde inquiry and failing to provide a future date by which its findings will be published risks further doubling down on the impression that the party does not take issues of anti-black racism seriously,” the statement said. “The abuse contained within the [leaked] report and the issues it seeks to address are incredibly serious and must be part of our attempts to ensure the Labour party is an inclusive and tolerant place. “The fact that members who contributed to anti-black racism have been readmitted to the party is a cause of concern and this delay only adds to the anxiety.” MPs have previously raised concerns that Starmer is taking the support of black and minority voters for granted. A leaked policy document calling on the party to “use of the [union] flag, veterans [and] dressing smartly” to win back disillusioned voters was criticised by Lewis as “moving down the track of the nativist right.” The Labour party has been approached for comment.