Chris Williamson case referred to fresh Labour panel

Suspended Labour MP Chris Williamson faces a fresh antisemitism probe after his case was referred to a specialist panel.

Members of Labour’s governing body’s disputes committee referred his case to the specialist panel following a crunch meeting, but it is not yet clear when the new panel will convene, Jewish News understands.

HuffPost UK reported the panel rejected a recommendation to lift Williamson’s suspension and had “acted in light of” a letter from Keith Vaz, the Labour MP who was part of a previous panel which agreed to let Williamson back into the party and later called for the decision to be reviewed.

It is understood the specialist panel could refer the case to the highest body in Labour’s disciplinary procedures, the National Constitutional Committee, that would decide whether Williamson can stand again as a Labour MP.

This comes after the Derby North MP was readmitted to the party last month with a formal warning, and suspended again over the antisemitism row.

Williamson was suspended in February after video footage emerged of him telling Momentum activists that Labour’s reaction to antisemitism claims had led to the party being “demonised”.

He was also filmed saying he had celebrated the resignation of MP Joan Ryan, who quit Labour in protest over the handling of antisemitism and bullying complaints.

Read more: 

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• Gordon Brown says Labour must automatically expel antisemites  
• Labour sinks to ‘deeper low’ amid claims it gagged antisemitism whistleblowers  
• Three peers resign from Labour citing ‘institutional antisemitism’
• Lawyer hired by Labour to tackle antisemitism backlog to leave post  
• Guardian investigates and pulls letter from Jewish activists backing Williamson