Jewish community leaders in the United Kingdom have reacted furiously to Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn's decision to name the lawyer Shami Chakrabarti as a new member of the House of Lords, the upper house of the British legislature.
Chakrabarti was recently tasked by Corbyn with an inquiry into anti-Semitism in the main UK opposition party and delivered her report at the end of June.
Chakrabarti, who stood down as director of the human rights pressure group Liberty in January, accepted her appointment as a lawmaker, saying: "I am honored to accept Jeremy Corbyn's challenge and opportunity to help hold the government to account."
Corbyn, who was elected only last year as leader of the Labour Party and who is currently facing a challenge to his leadership, previously promised not to nominate people for membership of the House of Lords. Corbyn's deputy Tom Watson called the decision a mistake and said he had not been consulted.
Board of Deputies of British Jews Vice President Marie van der Zyl said: "It is beyond disappointing that Shami Chakrabarti has been offered, and accepted, a peerage from Labour following her so-called 'independent' inquiry. The report, which was weak in several areas, now seems to have been rewarded with an honor. This 'whitewash for peerages' is a scandal that surely raises serious questions about the integrity of Ms. Chakrabarti, her inquiry and the Labour leadership."
The Board's CEO Gillian Merron told BBC News: “It looks like a real question about the independence of the Chakrabarti report into anti-Semitism which was lauded by the leader of the Labour Party.
The Community Security Trust, an anti-Semitism watchdog, called Charabart"i's elevation to become a baroness "a shameless kick in the teeth for all who put hope in her now wholly compromised inquiry."
UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said on Twitter: "Shami Chakrabarti has a proud record of public service, but in accepting this peerage, the credibility of her report lies in tatters and the Labour Party's stated intention, to unequivocally tackle anti-Semitism, remains woefully unrealized."
Campaign Against Anti-Semitism spokesman Jonathan Sacerdoti said: “If anybody still took Shami Chakrabarti’s report or Jeremy Corbyn ’s declared opposition to anti-Semitism seriously, this must be the final straw." He added: "She did not tackle allegations of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party or their woeful handling by Jeremy Corbyn, and she even refused to adopt a definition of anti-Semitism. Having promised to never send anyone to the House of Lords, that is exactly what Jeremy Corbyn has done in return for a clean bill of health.”
John Mann MP, a Labour Party lawmaker who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group against Anti-Semitism and who is an outspoken critic of Corbyn, said: "It’s cash for a report. She’s sold herself cheaply to get into the Lords.”
