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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/27/chris-williamson-labour-mp-suspension-lifted-antisemitism-anger-jewish-members
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Chris Williamson: Labour constituency party to protest at readmission | Chris Williamson: Labour constituency party to protest at readmission |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Labour constituency party is to protest to the party hierarchy about the decision to lift the suspension of the MP Chris Williamson, who had suggested that the party was “too apologetic” about antisemitism. | |
| The annual meeting of the Finchley and Golders Green constituency Labour party voted by a significant majority to write to the party’s general secretary, Jennie Formby, and its national executive to express concern at the decision and seek an urgent reviews. | |
| The letter will be sent jointly by the constituency’s chair and its parliamentary candidate, Sara Conway. The local party is also pushing for an independent system to investigate such complaints. | The letter will be sent jointly by the constituency’s chair and its parliamentary candidate, Sara Conway. The local party is also pushing for an independent system to investigate such complaints. |
| Labour MPs expressed fury at Williamson’s readmission on Wednesday, after he was suspended for four months over the remarks. | |
| In response, Williamson said he had received an “avalanche of goodwill messages” after his suspension was lifted. | |
| Williamson tweeted that he could now “focus on … working for a Corbyn-led Labour government” and thanked “grassroots members” for their support. | Williamson tweeted that he could now “focus on … working for a Corbyn-led Labour government” and thanked “grassroots members” for their support. |
| I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks for the avalanche of goodwill messages from grassroots members. I can now focus on representing local people in Derby Nth and working for a Corbyn-led Labour govt to positively transform the lives of millions.Together anything is possible! | I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks for the avalanche of goodwill messages from grassroots members. I can now focus on representing local people in Derby Nth and working for a Corbyn-led Labour govt to positively transform the lives of millions.Together anything is possible! |
| Lord Falconer, who earlier turned down a request from Jeremy Corbyn to look into antisemitism in the party, said the decision to readmit Williamson suggested “a collective failure” from Labour. The Equality and Human Rights Commission is investigating antisemitism in the party. | |
| The Guardian understands party investigators recommended that Williamson, the MP for Derby North, face a sterner sanction, but were overruled by a panel from the national executive committee (NEC) made up of the MPs Keith Vaz and George Howarth and Huda Elmi, a constituency representative. | |
| Sources close to the NEC said Vaz and Elmi had argued for Williamson’s readmission, with a formal warning, on the basis that a snap general election was highly likely. | Sources close to the NEC said Vaz and Elmi had argued for Williamson’s readmission, with a formal warning, on the basis that a snap general election was highly likely. |
| Williamson is likely to face a deselection battle in his constituency, but will be eligible to stand again for the party in any election. | Williamson is likely to face a deselection battle in his constituency, but will be eligible to stand again for the party in any election. |
| Falconer, a former Labour justice secretary, expressed dismay that the NEC overruled a recommendation from staff not to readmit Williamson before further investigations had been made. He said it was “very, very difficult” to understand why the committee had failed to refer Williamson for further investigation. | Falconer, a former Labour justice secretary, expressed dismay that the NEC overruled a recommendation from staff not to readmit Williamson before further investigations had been made. He said it was “very, very difficult” to understand why the committee had failed to refer Williamson for further investigation. |
| He also offered to oversee how the party deals with complaints of antisemitism. “I am willing to not only do the investigation but also on a prolonged basis to be, as it were, the surveillance commissioner to see that it is done properly,” Falconer said. | He also offered to oversee how the party deals with complaints of antisemitism. “I am willing to not only do the investigation but also on a prolonged basis to be, as it were, the surveillance commissioner to see that it is done properly,” Falconer said. |
| He urged Labour MPs dismayed over antisemitism not to leave the party, but fight to change it. “Keep making it clear that it is time for the Labour party to improve its position … But I completely agree something needs to be done, not just talked about,” he said. | |
| The Labour MP Ruth Smeeth, who is Jewish, accused the leadership of “political interference” in the decision to readmit Williamson. | The Labour MP Ruth Smeeth, who is Jewish, accused the leadership of “political interference” in the decision to readmit Williamson. |
| “Yet again, all we’re really asking for is genuine leadership. We saw members of the national executive committee, the ruling body of the NEC, overturned the recommendations of the Labour party. That is clearly political interference,” she told Sky News. | “Yet again, all we’re really asking for is genuine leadership. We saw members of the national executive committee, the ruling body of the NEC, overturned the recommendations of the Labour party. That is clearly political interference,” she told Sky News. |
| Smeeth said she would not be “bullied out of the Labour party”, adding: “It’s other people who have abhorrent views that are racist that need to leave. It’s not me that’s going anywhere.” | Smeeth said she would not be “bullied out of the Labour party”, adding: “It’s other people who have abhorrent views that are racist that need to leave. It’s not me that’s going anywhere.” |
| The veteran Labour MP Margaret Hodge described the decision to lift Williamson’s suspension as “appalling” and “outrageous”. | The veteran Labour MP Margaret Hodge described the decision to lift Williamson’s suspension as “appalling” and “outrageous”. |
| Speaking on the BBC’s Newsnight, Hodge said Corbyn could have the decision overturned. “He could tomorrow get Chris Williamson suspended, he could tomorrow actually overturn the finding of this panel and he could get Chris Williamson expelled,” she said. | Speaking on the BBC’s Newsnight, Hodge said Corbyn could have the decision overturned. “He could tomorrow get Chris Williamson suspended, he could tomorrow actually overturn the finding of this panel and he could get Chris Williamson expelled,” she said. |
| Labour | Labour |
| Antisemitism | Antisemitism |
| Charles Falconer, Lord Falconer of Thoroton | Charles Falconer, Lord Falconer of Thoroton |
| Race | |
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