GLU then initiated and undertook an intensive, large-scale operation to trawl social
media and purge the party of some of Jeremy Corbyn’s supporters. This operation was
falsely described as investigating members for abusive conduct, including
antisemitism, but only a small fraction related to antisemitism. Many Corbyn
supporters were suspended or excluded from the party on flimsy grounds, while
action was not taken against many members on the right of the party reported to GLU
for the same conduct. Much of the language for which members were suspended was
the same as the language Labour staff used themselves when talking about
supporters of Jeremy Corbyn.
While staff boasted privately about creating a “new stasi system”, the scale of the
operation was initially hidden from the NEC, with one staff member admitting “we
don't want the NEC to have much of an idea how many there are to review (we're
worried they'll get scared)”. The NEC was provided with misleading information about
the work being undertaken, and never provided with all of the search terms GLU were
using, which would have revealed how the “purge” was being “rigged”. Individuals
associated with the Labour right whose abusive behaviour was well-documented and
reported to the Party were protected from action. [Labour Antisemitism Report]