Jeremy Corbyn criticised for 'own goal' peerage award to Shami Chakrabarti

Labour’s attack on David Cameron’s controversial resignation honours list was blunted as Jeremy Corbyn faced growing criticism for handing a peerage to the head of an inquiry into anti-Semitism in his party.

Jewish groups claimed that Shami Chakrabarti had been made a Labour peer as a reward for what they described as her “whitewash” report on the allegations of anti-Semitism inside Labour. Mr Corbyn denied the claim, pointing to Ms Chakrabarti’s record as the widely respected former director of human rights group Liberty.

Mr Corbyn's internal critics described the peerage as his “most spectacular own goal yet”. They were frustrated that the nomination eclipsed Labour’s criticism of Mr Cameron for handing honours to 46 former aides, allies and ministers and peerages to another 13.

Gillian Merron, a former Labour minister who is now chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said the independence of Labour's inquiry was now seriously in question. “It looks like the award of a peerage for the delivery of a report which was seen as a whitewash and a disappointment to many in the Jewish community,” she said. “There is a real question here about the integrity of this appointment.”

Tom Watson, Labour’s deputy leader, who has urged his party to boycott the honours system, said the peerage was “a mistake” and the timing “not great” because Mr Cameron’s list was under fire. In a sign of how strained relations are between him and Mr Corbyn, he revealed that he had not been consulted about the move.

Wes Streeting, a Labour backbencher, said: “With just one Lords appointment, Corbyn has undermined criticism of Cameron’s list and the remaining credibility of his anti-Semitism inquiry.” He urged the Labour leader to spell out precisely when Ms Chakrabarti’s peerage was discussed with her. “The timing and nature of this appointment really does stink,” he said.

But Diane Abbott, the shadow Health Secretary and a Corbyn ally, replied: “Shami Chakrabarti is one of the most distinguished people in public life. She could have had a peerage under a number of Labour leaders. To say her appointment stinks, what message does that give to young women of Shami's background about stepping into the public space?”

Ms Chakrabarti, who joined Labour when she agreed to conduct the anti-Semitism inquiry, said: “I am honoured to accept Jeremy Corbyn’s challenge and opportunity to help hold the Government to account.This is a dangerous moment for our country and we share vital human rights values that need defending more than ever before in my lifetime.”

Her inquiry concluded that Labour was “not overrun” by anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or other forms of racism but recommended that party figures should not use labels such as “Zio” or “Paki” and should avoid bringing Hitler into debates about Israel and Palestine, as the former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone did.

Shirley Williams, the former Liberal Democrat leader in the Lords, said Mr Cameron’s list was “a very dubious path to go down" because ”it opens up the House of Lords to be nothing but a way of offering baubles and prizes for people who work for a particular party”. She said resignation honours should be proposed by a cross-party committee to ensure those nominated had made a huge contribution to public service. Although ordinary people were nominated for OBEs and MBEs, she said, “as you climb up the list, it becomes more and more politicised and less and less about what people have actually done for the country”.

Digby Jones, who was made a Trade Minister and crossbench peer by Labour, accused Mr Cameron of “taking the mickey”. He said: “You have got to differentiate between reward and contribution and benefit to the nation.”

Kirsty Blackman, the SNP’s spokeswoman on the Lords, said the Upper House was “well past its sell-by date – it must be scrapped and replaced with a fully elected second chamber”. She criticised Theresa May for not blocking Mr Cameron’s list and said Mr Corbyn’s nomination of Ms Chakrabarti was a “cause for concern”.

The 16 peers on the Cameron list, including 13 Conservatives, takes the size of the Lords over the 800 mark. The Tories do not enjoy an overall majority and are often defeated by Labour and the Liberal Democrats. The number of peers is now: Tories 256; Labour 210; Lib Dems 105; crossbenchers 175; Bishops 26; non-affiliated 25; and others 16.