They are already well past that stage. This is only the second Section 20 statutory investigation the EHRC has ever done. They don't do that unless there is something big.

To open a statutory investigation, the EHRC had to be convinced by the previously submitted evidence that there were strong indications for "systematic discrimination and unlawful practices relating to equality act commitments" by the party and/or it's employees.

If it were only isolated incidents and inconclusive evidence they wouldn't have been able to even start a Section 20 investigation and would have just had to investigate normally with witness testimony. Now they have the full power of the courts to demand access to all internal Labour party documents and communications and to void active NDA agreements for Labour party employees current and historic.

In other words - it's serious.