Politics

Labour MP hits out at Williamson’s readmission to party – despite voting in favour of it


Mr Vaz joined the chorus of those who voiced their concern regarding reinstating Mr Williamson with just a formal warning after a four-month-long suspension following an anti-Semitism scandal. Mr Williamson had been filmed during a Momentum meeting in Sheffield saying the party was being “too apologetic” about antisemitism allegations. Mr Vaz wrote a letter to Jennie Formby, the party’s general secretary, to call for the National Executive Committee (NEC) panel on antisemitism to be reconvened with different members and reconsider the recent ruling. 

But the Leicester East MP himself was one of the three people sitting on the panel responsible for readmitting Jeremy Corbyn’s ally.

However, Mr Vaz said he had been called in to sit on the panel at the last minute and he had attended it “despite having medical treatment that day, which continued after the meeting”.

He added: “The disciplinary process involved extremely serious matters.

“The process needs to be fair to all and to be seen to be fair and all must be treated equally and no favour should be shown to anyone.  

READ MORE: Corbyn rounded on by nearly 100 MPs and peers for ‘offensive’ decisions ‘this must stop!’

“In my view, having served on the NEC for 15 years I consider the decisions the panel made yesterday cannot stand.

“In order to ensure complete integrity of the process either a new panel should be convened or all the cases from yesterday should be referred to the Disputes Committee for reconsideration.”

Mr Vaz also showed concern over the fact that details of Mr Williamson’s case were leaked to the media.

This, he said, meant that the other 36 cases dealt with by the NEC “could potentially mount a legal challenge” against the party.

The panel’s decision provoked an uprising in the Labour Party led by Tom Watson, Mr Corbyn’s deputy. 

Over 100 Labour MPs and members of the House of Lords signed a statement published yesterday on Twitter by Mr Watson where they asked Mr Corbyn to withdraw the whip from Mr Williamson.

The letter read: “We cannot overstate the depth and breadth of hurt and anger felt about the readmission of Chris Williamson into the Labour Party and the questions that arise about the fairness of the process.

“We call on Jeremy Corbyn to show leadership by asking for this inappropriate, offensive and reputationally damaging decision to be overturned and reviewed.

“Ultimately, it is for Jeremy Corbyn to decide whether Chris Williamson retains the Labour whip.” 

This defiant move was followed by another letter initially signed by 68 “Jewish and non-Jewish members of staff”, a number which later grew to almost 100, which informed Ms Formby Mr Williamson’s readmission was making them feel “unwelcome” at work.

Mr Corbyn said yesterday he had nothing to do with the decision, as the panel was independent.

He added: “We deal with anti-Semitism very, very seriously, there is no place for anti-Semitism in our society and obviously not in our party as well.

“Anyone that makes anti-Semitic remarks can expect to be at the very least reprimanded and, if they are very serious and they engage in antisemitic activity, then they are expelled from the party.”     



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