rights. I have learned so much in this process about the importance of listening. I write this Report in
the spirit of encouraging better understanding and civil discourse. I will confront hateful speech
wherever I encounter it. But we must never, in my view, run away from dialogue and debate.
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I recommend the adoption of the guidance on language and behaviour set out above and that
Rule 2.I.8 of the Party’s Rules be amended (as suggested in the Appendix to this report) so as
to make clear that beliefs out-with the Labour Party's aims and values are not to be protected
when considering whether a member has acted in a way which is prejudicial or grossly
detrimental to the Party.
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I further welcome the Code of Conduct proposed by the Labour Leader and approved by the
NEC in May 2016 in so far as it relates to racism. It should be amended so as to cover other
forms of prejudice (e.g. against women, LGBT and differently abled people). In the light of this
Code and my suggested guidance, I do not find further substantive rule changes addressing
standards of expected behaviour to be necessary.
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In implementing these recommendations, it should be made clear that the principles and
guidelines apply just as much to comments made on-line and via social media as they do
elsewhere.
Procedural rule changes are dealt with in what follows.
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