by Lamiat Sabin
Parliamentary Reporter

KEN LIVINGSTONE is set to challenge the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in court over allegations of anti-semitism made against him in its report.

The former Labour mayor of London is to file a judicial review at the High Court over the controversial report claiming in October that he was guilty of “unlawful harassment” against Jews.

He and Labour councillor Pam Bromley were the only two cases of alleged anti-semitism in the party that the EHRC cited.

The report was used by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer as the basis on which to expel members, including his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Livingstone and Ms Bromley announced today in a joint press release that they had “assembled a top legal team.”

They have launched a crowdfund for £40,000 to cover their initial costs.

It comes after it was announced on Wednesday that Mr Corbyn’s team will launch the first stage of a legal challenge — to Sir Keir after he withdrew the whip from Mr Corbyn — in the High Court on Monday.

Mr Livingstone said in a statement: “The EHRC’s investigation into the Labour Party was a politically motivated attack aimed at derailing Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

“The commission cobbled together a half-baked case against me, justified by a flawed legal analysis.”

Ms Bromley said that the “the right of pro-Palestine campaigners to criticise the state of Israel and its apartheid policies is being actively suppressed” by the EHRC report.

The legal challenge is being supported by the Left Legal Fighting Fund, launched by former Labour MP Chris Williamson using the proceeds of a legal win against the Labour Party in 2019.

Mr Williamson said: “This is a seminal case that could lead to the worst allegations in the EHRC report being entirely discredited.

“Ken and Pam deserve support to overturn the offensive and legally unsound findings against them.”