Young Fabians suspend members, review culture and halt events over complaint

The Fabian Society has launched a review of the Young Fabians and suspended its in-person activities, elections and committee, after a complaint about several members, LabourList can reveal.

Britain’s oldest political think tank confirmed it will commission a “review of the culture and practice” of the youth branch, starting in November.

A letter sent to candidates involved in the latest elections to be on next year’s committee of the Young Fabians, which dates back to the 1960s and is open to those up aged to 31, confirms the think tank has received a “complaint from a group of Young Fabians”.

The complaint “includes allegations of behaviours that breach the society’s code of conduct”, and a number of investigations are said to have now been launched, with “individuals suspended from Fabian Society membership”. It stresses that further details are confidential, and administrative suspensions while investigations are carried out “do not indicate a finding of misconduct”.

Allegations “may raise wider concerns about…culture and conduct”

The letter, seen by LabourList, says that the allegations “may raise wider concerns about the culture and conduct of the Young Fabians”.

Because the think tank takes this “very seriously”, its honorary officers have also decided to:

• Suspend all in-person Young Fabians activities, including the November annual general meeting.
• Suspend both the 2022-23 committee, “save for where individuals are directed to undertake duties”,  and elections for the 2023-24 committee.
• Hold a review, to which current and former members of the Young Fabians and its executive are invited to make submissions via [email protected].

One source LabourList spoke to alleged there had recently been “tensions” between some members.

A spokesperson for the Fabian Society said: “The Fabian Society has a robust code of conduct for its members and takes complaints seriously.

 “Following a number of complaints involving Young Fabian members the society has commissioned a review of the culture and practice of the Young Fabians. Young Fabian members as well as others who know the organisation are invited to make submissions to the review.”

Many leading Labour figures once belonged to the Young Fabians, including former secretary and current Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves.