Labour’s £1.5million leak probe axed – as Sir Keir Starmer’s party drops long-running action against former leader Jeremy Corbyn’s aides
Labor has dropped legal action against five ex-staff accused of leaking an internal report to undermine Sir Keir Starmer‘s leadership.
The long-running lawsuit cost £1.5 million and could have been £900,000 more.
The five who denied it were also there Jeremy Corbyncommunications director Seumas Milne and the ex-leader’s chief of staff, Karie Murphy.
The three others were Georgie Robertson, Laura Murray and Harry Hayball.
The report on the struggle under Corbyn’s leadership of the party was leaked when Sir Keir became the new leader in April 2020.
The 860-page document, which included hundreds of WhatsApp messages, found “no evidence” that anti-Semitism was treated differently from other complaints.
Labor has dropped legal action against five ex-staff accused of leaking an internal report to undermine Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership
The five who denied it included Jeremy Corbyn’s communications director Seumas Milne and the ex-leader’s chief of staff Karie Murphy (pictured)
The report into Mr Corbyn’s leadership battle over the party was leaked when Sir Keir became the new leader in April 2020. In the photo: Seumas Milne
It also claimed that those opposed to Corbyn’s leadership were working against him and damaging the party’s success in the 2017 election.
The five affected previously said they would “vigorously defend” themselves in a High Court case, calling the claims “baseless”.
An investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office also failed to determine the cause of the leak.
A joint statement from Labor and law firm Carter Ruck said on June 6: ‘The party discontinues its legal claims against Karie Murphy, Seumas Milne, Georgie Robertson, Harry Hayball and Laura Murray on a ‘no costs order’ basis.
“The five are happy with the resolution of the claims.”
Last year, Labor asked the Supreme Court to postpone full hearing of the case until February next year at the earliest.
