WE knew it was coming. And James Cleverley, the Deputy Conservative Chairman, kindly supplied Theresa May with a large political cudgel.
The London MP told MPs: “We can never be too blasé about anti-Semitism, we can never be too tolerant of anti-Semitism and the party opposite can never be too apologetic about anti-Semitism.”
A reference to the assertion by Jezza’s closest of comrades Chris Williamson, who was filmed insisting to applause that, amid the damaging racism row, Labour had been "too apologetic" about anti-Semitism in its ranks.
The PM rose slowly to make sure her aim was true, telling the chief comrade, who was slumped in his seat like a chastened schoolboy: “What we’ve heard sums up Labour under their leader.
“They lose the honourable member for Liverpool Wavertree[Luciana Berger] and they keep the honourable member for Derby North[Mr Williamson]. It tells you all you need to know about the Labour leadership; present but not involved.”
Jezza slumped some more.
“Perhaps if the Labour leader actually wants to take action against racism, he would suspend the honourable member for Derby North.” A view that brought a loud echo from the Tory berserkers.
By now, the chief comrade had almost disappeared into the green benches.
Outwith the chamber, Mr W issued a fulsome apology, explaining he had simply been trying to stress “how much the party has done to tackle anti-Semitism”.
But a hurricane of hurt was blowing through his leader’s office, which, remarkably perhaps, refused to suspend the offending comrade.
Former leader Ed Miliband claimed the Derbyshire MP had brought the party into disrepute, stressing: “This is a test of seriousness on our part about the whole issue. Disciplinary action, not simply an apology, is required."
Dame Margaret Hodge noted: “Zero tolerance approach means Williamson must be suspended/whip removed, nothing less will do."
Her Labour colleague Wes Streeting took to social media to let rip: “It was repulsive, revealing and you should be expelled from the Labour Party."
But, according to reports, the offending comrade, on his way to be ticked off by his old pal Jezza, was given a “big hug” by none other than the party Chairman, Ian Lavery.
As I write, Jezza has turned a deaf ear to the chorus of indignation from his own MPs to remove the whip from Mr W.
Faced with a barrage of reporters' questions, his spokesman stressed how the Labour chief found the backbencher’s words “deeply offensive” and fell below the standard expected of MPs. Downplaying the problem of anti-Semitism made it harder to tackle, he insisted.
Jezza’s aide announced the offending comrade had been “issued with a notice of investigation for a pattern of behaviour”. But he pointed out he was not being suspended during the investigation.
However, given the level of ire swirling within Labour, the leader might soon have no choice but to suspend his chum.
And in the end, the offending comrade from Derbyshire might pay the ultimate price for his injudicious remarks: the boot.
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