Labour has apologised to antisemitism whistleblowers and a journalist for 'defamatory and false allegations' in a statement issued by the party's press office over a Panorama prog. It will also pay damages to the claimants. The bill will hit six-figures including costs.

The BBC has welcomed the decision after staff and subjects of the programme were "subject to an extraordinary and vitriolic attack by the Labour Party" - BBC spokesman

In an apology to whistleblowers Labour said: "We unreservedly withdraw all allegations of bad faith, malice and lying. We would like to apologise unreservedly for the distress, embarrassment and hurt caused by their publication. We have agreed to pay them damages."

In an apology to the BBC journalist Labour said: "Before the broadcast of the programme the Labour Party issued a press release that contained defamatory and false allegations about John Ware. We would like to take this opportunity to withdraw these allegations."

I understand Jeremy Corbyn, Seumas Milne and Jennie Formby have not instructed Carter Ruck to fight this decision. Unite had on their behalf to get Labour to release the statement it published this morning but they are not planning further legal action themselves on this.

Sources say it is "likely" that further legal challenges will be brought though, on the basis that Labour should not have settled. Some on the NEC are also understood to want to see the legal argument for settling and an explanation about how the party will pay the six-fig sum.

For clarity - Unite instructed Carter Ruck on behalf of Corbyn, Milne and Formby to get Labour to send them the apology statement before it was released to the court this morning. That action is now concluded, sources said. (Sorry for confusion)