Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Chris Williamson: "I'm absolutely determined to clear my name"

Labour has suspended MP Chris Williamson over remarks about the party's handling of anti-Semitism.

The Derby North MP said Labour had "given too much ground" in the face of criticism over the issue, but later said he "deeply regrets" the remarks.

A number of Labour MPs had called for his suspension and the parliamentary party said he was no longer welcome at their meetings.

A Labour spokesman confirmed he has now been suspended "pending investigation".

Mr Williamson told the BBC that he was "absolutely determined" to clear his name, and that he did not want anyone to think he was "minimising the cancer of anti-Semitism".

The row erupted after footage was published by the Yorkshire Post, showing Mr Williamson, who is a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn, telling activists Labour had been "too apologetic" over anti-Semitism and was being "demonised as a racist, bigoted party".

It also came just a week after nine Labour MPs quit the party, citing anti-Semitism as one of the main reasons for the move.

At a meeting earlier on Wednesday, at which Mr Corbyn and the party's general secretary Jennie Formby were not present, the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) agreed the Mr Williamson should be suspended immediately.

Labour had put the MP under "formal notice of investigation" over a "pattern of behaviour" relating to the long-running row over anti-Semitism, but a decision was later taken by Ms Formby to suspend him.

Mr Williamson is reported to have held a meeting with aides of Mr Corbyn's shortly before Prime Minister's Questions began at midday.

Minutes later, he issued a statement on Twitter apologising, saying he never meant to downplay the "pernicious and cancerous" nature of anti-Semitism.

But senior figures called for Labour to go further and take disciplinary action, with ex-leader Ed Miliband describing the row as "a test" for the party.

A number of Labour MPs have taken to Twitter to welcome the decision by the party.

But Margaret Hodge questioned why it had taken so long to suspend Mr Williamson.

"He has form," she told the BBC. "He has done this before, he has apologised before and then he has done the same thing again.

"In the current climate not to show strong, immediate, determined action to stand out anti-Semitism was a mistake. The fact it has finally happened is a relief."

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Hodge: 'Relief' over Chris Williamson suspension

Wes Streeting also welcomed the suspension, adding: "We got there eventually and I hope that this sends a message to other people in the Labour Party that dismissing or delegitimising concerns about anti-Semitism isn't acceptable."

Mary Creagh said the suspension was "not a moment too soon", and Stephen Kinnock tweeted: "About time."

'Swift, but not swift enough'

Analysis by Iain Watson, BBC political correspondent

The suspension of Chris Williamson was relatively swift, but not swift enough to suggest there has been a sea-change in dealing with the problems of anti-Semitism in the party.

The initial briefing from sources close to the Labour leadership was that Chris Williamson needed to apologise, withdraw his comments and be subject to an investigation into "his pattern of behaviour".

If he had also been suspended at this stage, it would have been a clearer signal that the leadership were imposing their avowed policy of "zero tolerance" on the issue.

But it wasn't until Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson, its reviewer of anti-Semitism cases Lord Falconer, and some of the party's prominent Jewish MPs intervened that the suspension took place.

There seemed to be a greater willingness to do this in some parts of the party machine than others.

But with disagreements behind the scenes over the precise sanctions to deploy, Labour allowed their political opponents to steal a march at Prime Minister's Questions - and gave more publicity to The Independent Group, which has alleged the party is "institutionally anti-Semitic".

Labour has struggled to contain a long-running row over claims of anti-Semitism - hostility or prejudice directed against Jewish people - within its ranks. Nine MPs quit the party last week, criticising the leadership's handling of the issue.

But at a recent Momentum meeting in Sheffield, Mr Williamson said "I have got to say I think our party's response has been partly responsible for that because in my opinion… we have backed off far too much, we have given too much ground, we have been too apologetic."

Amid applause from the audience, he went on to say: "We've done more to address the scourge of anti-Semitism than any political party."

Who is Chris Williamson?

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Chris Williamson said Labour had done more to address anti-Semitism than any other party

The 62-year old is one of the most outspoken MPs on the left of the party

A former bricklayer and social worker, he was a councillor before entering Parliament

Led Derby Council twice in the 2000s, where he formed a coalition with the Tories

Elected as MP for Derby North in 2010

Lost the seat in 2015 but won it back two years later

Has called on critics of Jeremy Corbyn to be de-selected

On Tuesday, Labour officials criticised Mr Williamson for booking a room in Parliament for a screening of a film about anti-Semitism and the activist Jackie Walker.

Ms Walker was suspended by Labour over allegedly anti-Semitic comments in 2016, and the documentary, Witch Hunt, looks at those and other allegations within the party.

Earlier this month, the Labour Party's general secretary, Jennie Formby, said the party had received 673 complaints in 10 months alleging acts of anti-Semitism by its members.</s>
• Labour MP Chris Williamson has been suspended over remarks he made about the party’s handling of antisemitism.
• Footage emerged this week of Williamson, a close ally of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, telling activists Labour had been “too apologetic” about incidents of anti-Jewish behaviour within the party.
• Corbyn insisted earlier in February that the MP was “not antisemitic in any way.”

LONDON – Labour MP Chris Williamson has been suspended from the party following remarks he made about the party’s handling of antisemitism.

It comes after he was forced to apologise for suggesting that Labour had “been too apologetic” over antisemitism within the party.

A spokesperson for Jeremy Corbyn announced earlier on Wednesday that the Derby North MP faced an internal investigation but would not be suspended, but the party appears to have conceded to demands from senior figures to go further and suspend the whip from Williamson.

Senior party figures including deputy leader Tom Watson and London mayor Sadiq Khan had said there were grounds to suspend Williamson for his comments, who has twice been forced to defend behaviour related to antisemitism in the past.

The latest row started after footage published by the Yorkshire Post showed Williamson telling party activists that Labour had been “too apologetic” over hundreds of alleged cases of antisemitism and was being “demonised as a racist, bigoted party.”

Williamson previously sparked controversy in 2017 after insisting claims that Labour had a problem with anti-Jewish behaviour in were a “dirty lowdown trick” being used for “political ends.”

He also apologised in January this year after offering support to a musician accused of antisemitism and Holocaust denial.

Williamson is a close ally of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who insisted earlier in February that the MP was “not antisemitic in any way.”</s>LABOUR has suspended MP Chris Williamson after he accused the party of being "too apologetic" over accusations of antisemitism.

The comment was made to Momentum activists in a video obtained by the Yorkshire Post, where the Derby North MP claimed Labour had long "stood up to racism" but is "now being demonised as a racist, bigoted party". "I think our party's response has been partly responsible for that because in my opinion... we've backed off too much, we've given too much ground, we've been too apologetic," the ally of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said. "We've actually done more to address the scourge of antisemitism than any other political party." He also recounted singing "Celebration" in response to the resignations of a number of Labour MPs last week, many of whom cited antisemitism as a reason for their departure.

Eight former Labour MPs, including Luciana Berger and Joan Ryan, quit the party to form The Independent Group. Ms Berger said her former party had become "instiutionally antisemitic". Mr Williamson said he regretted his "choice of words" and insisted he had not intended to minimise the seriousness of anti-Semitism. But his apology was rejected as "half-hearted" by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, which sent a formal complaint calling for Mr Corbyn to withdraw the Labour whip.

And there was a furious response from Labour MPs, with deputy leader Tom Watson saying the apology was "not good enough" and issuing a formal request for Mr Williamson's suspension. Labour had already branded Mr Williamson's actions as "completely unacceptable" after he booked a room in Parliament for the screening of a film about an activist suspended over anti-Semitism complaints. A Labour Party spokesperson said today: "Chris Williamson is suspended from the Party, and therefore the whip, pending investigation." Mr Williamson had been issued with a "notice of investigation for a pattern of behaviour", but a decision was later taken by the party's general secretary Jennie Formby to suspend him.

Reacting to the news, Labour MP Wes Streeting tweeted: "Strongly welcome the suspension of Chris Williamson. We got there eventually and I hope that this sends a message to other people in the Labour Party that dismissing or delegitimising concerns about antisemitism isn't acceptable." Mr Williamson was also filmed saying he had celebrated the resignation of MP Joan Ryan, who quit Labour in protest over the handling of anti-Semitism and bullying complaints. Theresa May seized on the issue during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, challenging Mr Corbyn to suspend the man he once praised as a "very good, very effective Labour MP". Moments before the PM spoke, Mr Williamson issued a statement insisting he had been "an anti-racist all my life" and that it pained him to think that anyone should believe he intended to "minimise the cancerous and pernicious nature of anti-Semitism".</s>Chris Williamson, the MP for Derby North, tells a Sheffield Momentum meeting that Labour has been 'too apologetic' about antisemitism within the party. The Labour party has suspended Williamson for the remark.</s>Labour MP Chris Williamson has been reported for saying the party was

Labour has suspended MP Chris Williamson after he accused the party of being "too apologetic" over accusations of antisemitism.

He made the comment to Momentum activists in a video obtained by the Yorkshire Post, where the Derby North MP claimed Labour had long "stood up to racism" but is "now being demonised as a racist, bigoted party".

"I think our party's response has been partly responsible for that because in my opinion... we've backed off too much, we've given too much ground, we've been too apologetic," the ally of Jeremy Corbyn said.

"We've actually done more to address the scourge of antisemitism than any other political party."</s>Labour is facing calls to censure one of its MPs, Chris Williamson, after he was filmed saying the party had been “too apologetic” over complaints of antisemitism.

Williamson, a former shadow minister, told a meeting of Sheffield Momentum that Labour had been “demonised” over the issue.

He said: “I’ve got to say I think our party’s response has been partly responsible for that. Because, in my opinion, we’ve backed off far too much, we’ve given too much ground, we’ve been too apologetic.”

The remarks caused an outcry, with the anti-racism charity Hope Not Hate calling for the whip to be withdrawn.

Several Labour MPs also called on the party to act against their colleague.

Stephen Doughty, the Labour MP for Cardiff South and Penarth, said Williamson’s comments were unacceptable, adding: “I have made clear to both the leader’s office and our whips that I expect urgent action to be taken.”

Wes Streeting, the Ilford North MP, said the video obtained by the Yorkshire Post was “stomach-turning. No action will be taken.”

Stella Creasy, the MP for Walthamstow, said she told Williamson “about the toxic culture antisemitism created and why it had to be expunged not ignored”.

“Those who perpetuate it or minimise it bring the party into disrepute,” she said.

The Nottingham South MP, Lilian Greenwood, told the Guardian “a rap over the knuckles and a request to be nicer” was insufficient. 



She said: “This is a pattern of deliberately provocative behaviour. If the party are serious about tackling antisemitism and want to be seen to be serious then he should be subject to a disciplinary investigation.

“Compare the party’s actions in response to Margaret Hodge and Ian Austin. So yes, I think the whip should be withdrawn pending investigation.”

Labour and Momentum have not yet commented but Jon Lansman, the founder of Momentum, said there was a “major problem” with some party members expressing antisemitic views.

The ally of Jeremy Corbyn said: “It’s now obvious we have a much larger number of people with hardcore antisemitic opinions which, unfortunately, is polluting the atmosphere in a lot of constituency parties and, in particular, online.”

Williamson was already heading for a dressing down from party officials after he helped to arrange a screening in parliament of a film defending Jackie Walker, the activist suspended from the party over comments about antisemitism.

A Labour spokeswoman said it was “completely inappropriate” for the Derby North MP to have booked a room in parliament next Monday for a screening of the film, entitled Witch Hunt.

Labour’s chief whip, Nick Brown, and the party’s general secretary, Jennie Formby, are to contact Williamson to stress their displeasure at the film booking and ensure he cancels the event.

The action by Brown and Formby comes after complaints to the party hierarchy from Labour MPs, including the deputy leader, Tom Watson, Lilian Greenwood and Ruth Smeeth.

The screening was to be hosted by Jewish Voice for Labour, a small pro-Corbyn party organisation that rejects the idea that Labour has an issue with antisemitism.

Witch Hunt takes a sceptical look at claims that Labour has experienced a problem with antisemitic behaviour under Corbyn’s leadership, focusing particularly on the case of Walker, who has been suspended from the party for more than two years.

Walker was initially suspended after she wrote about Jewish people as “chief financiers of the sugar and slave trade”, but was then reinstated. She was suspended again in September 2016 after saying she had not found a definition of antisemitism she could work with, and questioning why Holocaust Memorial Day was not more wide-ranging. She is reportedly facing a party hearing next month.

A Labour spokeswoman said: “It’s completely inappropriate to book a room for an event about an individual who is suspended from the party and subject to ongoing disciplinary procedures. This falls below the standards we expect of MPs.”

Antisemitism was cited as among the reasons for leaving Labour by several MPs who quit the party for the Independent Group last week, among them Luciana Berger and Joan Ryan . The Labour MP Ian Austin also left Labour last week, saying there was a “culture of extremism, antisemitism and intolerance” in the party.

Watson tweeted that he had reported his concerns to Brown and Formby. He also said in response to a tweet about Williamson’s “too apologetic” statement: “It’s hard not to conclude that his behaviour is deliberately inflammatory.”

Greenwood said she planned to complain about Williamson, who had previously said accusations of antisemitism in the party were being made “for political ends”. “He seems to be very deliberately sticking two fingers up at the Jewish community and his colleagues,” Greenwood told the Guardian.

Smeeth told Jewish News, which first reported the planned film screening, that Williamson was assisting “an organisation that seems more intent on characterising the antisemitism crisis within the party as smears rather than being part of the solution”.

She said: “Giving these people and Jackie Walker a platform at the home of British democracy is a complete and utter disgrace. I’ll be complaining to the leader of the Labour party and the house authorities.”

Williamson told the Guardian he had only booked the room and was not hosting the event and did not plan to attend the screening.

The maker of the film, Jon Pullman, said it sought to examine the “wider historical context” of accusations about antisemitism on the left and treated the claims against Walker as “mischievous”.

Williamson had booked the room after attending the premiere of the film in east London last week, Pullman added.</s>The Labour Party has been “too apologetic” in its response to antisemitism claims, according to backbencher Chris Williamson.

In footage revealed by the Yorkshire Post, Williamson tells a Momentum event in Sheffield: “The party that has done more to stand up to racism is now being demonised as a racist, bigoted party.

“I have got to say I think our party’s response has been partly responsible for that because in my opinion… we’ve backed off too much, we have given too much ground, we have been too apologetic.”

He also says he celebrated the resignations of Labour MPs last week and sang the 1980s Kool and the Gang hit Celebration at “full blast” in his office.

Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh, who is thought to be considering leaving Labour, criticised the comments, while Kate Green said she was “sickened”.

A party spokesperson said: “This is deeply offensive. Downplaying the problem of antisemitism makes it harder for us to tackle it and celebrating a fellow MP’s departure is completely inappropriate. Chris Williamson should apologise.”

Deputy leader Tom Watson has revealed that he is writing to Labour’s chief whip asking that the whip be removed from Williamson, who Watson says has brought the party into disrepute.

The Williamson videos emerged last night, shortly after Jewish News revealed the MP’s plans to host a Jewish Voice for Labour event in parliament and screen a film by Jackie Walker, who is suspended from the party.

Labour MP Ruth Smeeth described the room booking by Williamson as “outrageous” and Tom Watson said he had reported the matter to the chief whip and general secretary.

A Labour Party spokesperson commented: “It’s completely inappropriate to book a room for an event about an individual who is suspended from the party and subject to ongoing disciplinary procedures. This falls below the standards we expect of MPs.”</s>
• Labour MP Chris Williamson is under investigation following remarks he made about antisemitism but will not be suspended.
• Senior party figures including deputy leader Tom Watson said Derby North MP, who has a history of controversial remarks about antisemitism within Labour, should have the party whip removed.
• Williamson is a close ally of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who insisted earlier in February that the MP was “not antisemitic in any way.”

LONDON – Labour MP Chris Williamson has been placed under investigation following remarks he made about antisemitism, a party spokesperson said on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for Jeremy Corbyn confirmed that the Derby North MP faced an internal investigation but would not be suspended after he was forced to apologise for suggesting that Labour had “been too apologetic” over antisemitism within the party.

“Chris Williamson has been given a notice of investigation for a pattern of behaviour,” the spokesperson said.

Senior party figures including deputy leader Tom Watson and London mayor Sadiq Khan said there were grounds to suspend Williamson for his comments, who has twice been forced to defend behaviour related to antisemitism in the past.

Williamson sparked controversy in 2017 after insisting claims that Labour had a problem with anti-Jewish behaviour in were a “dirty lowdown trick” being used for “political ends.”

He also apologised in January this year after offering support to a musician accused of antisemitism and Holocaust denial.

Williamson is a close ally of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who insisted earlier in February that the MP was “not antisemitic in any way.”</s>Labour has suspended the MP Chris Williamson after he was filmed saying the party had been “too apologetic” about antisemitism.

The decision by the general secretary, Jenny Formby, overturned an earlier announcement that Williamson would be allowed to keep the party whip while a “pattern of behaviour” was investigated.

A Labour spokesperson said: “Chris Williamson is suspended from the party, and therefore the whip, pending investigation.”

Formby and Jeremy Corbyn came under intense pressure throughout Wednesday to take tougher action than allowing him to remain a Labour member while a series of complaints against him were considered.

The suspension came after 38 Labour MPs from the soft left Tribune group, including several frontbenchers, signed a letter to Formby calling for his immediate suspension.

Corbyn’s deputy, Tom Watson, had earlier criticised Williamson’s “long-winded and heavily caveated” apology, and said “if it was in my gift” the whip would already have been removed.

Williamson issued a statement on Wednesday morning after he was filmed saying Labour had been “too apologetic” about complaints of antisemitism.

In the footage, first revealed by the Yorkshire Post, Williamson was cheered by activists in Sheffield as he said: “I’ve got to say, I think our party’s response has been partly responsible … Because, in my opinion, we’ve backed off far too much, we’ve given too much ground, we’ve been too apologetic.”

Williamson was also facing complaints about having booked a room in parliament to screen a controversial film about Jackie Walker, an activist suspended from the party.

In his statement, Williamson said, it “pains me greatly … that anyone should believe that it is my intention to minimise the cancerous and pernicious nature of antisemitism … I deeply regret, and apologise for, my recent choice of words when speaking about how the Labour party has responded to the ongoing fight against antisemitism inside of our party. I was trying to stress how much the party has done to tackle antisemitism.”</s>The Labour MP and ally of Jeremy Corbyn Chris Williamson has been suspended from the party pending an investigation, after he apologised for suggesting Labour had “given too much ground” in the way it responded to complaints about anti-Semitism.

The party said it was investigating a “pattern of behaviour” by Mr Williamson.
Chris Williamson, a Labour MP, is suspended by his party over comments that Labour had "given too much ground" when responding to criticism over its handling of antisemitism within its ranks.