The MP Chris Williamson is suing Labour over the decision to reimpose his suspension from the party over allegations of antisemitism.
The Derby North MP, an ally of Jeremy Corbyn, has issued legal papers to challenge Labour’s right to to take away the whip two days after he was allowed to return as a member.
The party is expected to vigorously defend its decision, which could lead to a highly embarrassing court case.
A spokesman for Williamson confirmed that legal papers had been put before a court and sent to Labour’s general secretary, Jennie Formby, as the party’s primary legal officer.
Williamson was initially suspended by the PLP in February after footage emerged showing him being cheered by activists in Sheffield as he said of accusations of antisemitism within Labour: “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’s suspension was swiftly re-imposed after a backlash from more than 60 Labour MPs who had been angered by the decision to allow him to return.
In a tweet on Tuesday night, Williamson urged supporters to help raise £75,000 to fund legal action against the party. He wrote: “I‘ve dedicated my life to the Labour party since I was 19 years-old, and I’m 63 next month. I would hugely appreciate your support in helping to overturn the unconstitutional decision to ‘re-suspend’ me from the party I love.”
The case will revolve around events in June when Williamson had the Labour whip restored. The decision followed a national executive panel comprising MPs Keith Vaz and George Howarth and constituency representative Huda Elmi, who ruled he should receive only a reprimand for suggesting the party was “too apologetic” about antisemitism.
However, Vaz subsequently said he had been drafted on to the panel at the last minute and felt the decision should be reconsidered.
At the time, a Labour source told the Guardian that, following Vaz’s comments, Formby had written to the party’s national executive to say Williamson’s case would be on the agenda for the next meeting of its disputes committee.
The source added: “Subsequently, the whip is not restored, as the decision is still pending.”
Williamson expressed disappointment in the decision. He tweeted at the time: “They say a week is a long time in politics: it seems two days is even longer. I’m naturally concerned by the lack of due process and consistency in how my case is being handled.”
The law firm Bindmans is understood to be working on the case on Williamson’s behalf.
More than 120 Labour MPs and peers led by the deputy leader, Tom Watson, demanded in June that Williamson be ejected over his antisemitism comments. That letter also followed the submission of a separate letter signed by nearly 70 Labour staff members expressing their anger at the readmission.
The shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, added his voice to the call for action, saying he was “deeply concerned about the decision to readmit Chris Williamson to the Labour party”.
Labour sources said Williamson’s suspension was in line with party rules and officers remained “confident there are no grounds for a successful legal challenge”.
A party spokesperson said: “Chris Williamson is suspended from the Labour party pending a hearing of the National Constitutional Committee, Labour’s highest disciplinary body. We do not give a running commentary on individual cases.”
