A Scottish Labour stalwart has launched a scathing attack on his party for re-admitting an MP suspended in an anti-semitism row.
Blair McDougall, the man who ran Better Together and is a former candidate in East Renfrewshire, the Scottish constituency with the highest Jewish vote, was furious to see Chris Williamson re-instated.
The Derby MP was suspended in February after video footage showed him telling a meeting of the grassroots Momentum group that Labour's reaction to anti-Semitism allegations had led to the party being "demonised".
His re-instatement came against the advice of party officials and came after several years of concern over alleged anti-semitism in Labour. Mr Williamson was issued with a formal warning but allowed back into the party after a hearing of a National Executive Committee (NEC) anti-Semitism panel.
Mr McDougall tweeted: "The decision the party made was this: yes he’s racist but we’re not going to punish him because he’s in a marginal seat. If you don’t get that a racist MP is not a real Labour MP, what the f*** are you doing in Labour?"
Just signed this. If you’re a Labour member and want to show there are still decent anti racists in Labour, please sign too. https://t.co/AX0oYh70nw
— Blair McDougall (@blairmcdougall) June 26, 2019
Several senior Scottish Labour figures have been alarmed by what they see as a failure by parts of the London-based party HQ to deal with anti-Jewish sentiments.
Blair McDougall
READ MORE: Promotion for former Scottish Labour MP Jim Sheridan in anti-Semitism row
Anti-racism charity Hope Not Hate also criticised Mr Williamson's reinstatement. It said: "The lifting of Chris Williamson’s suspension over allegations of antisemitism with merely a formal warning over his behavior is wrong and alarming.
"According to reports, he was found to have broken the Labour party’s rules, and party staff recommended further formal disciplinary action. The fact that this recommendation was overruled by a committee is alarming. This is not the outcome of an independent and rigorous process."
Margaret Hodge
Margaret Hodge, a veteran Labour MP who has lambasted her party's record, was alarmed to see Mr Williamson back. She tweeted: "Ignoring Chris Williamson's vile track record of antisemitism just for a vote is disgusting! He should have been kicked out of the party for good months ago."
READ MORE: Labour Party under investigation by watchdog over anti-Semitism complaints
Mr Williamson, who is a long-standing critic of Israeli policy towards Palestinians, has always denied that he is anti-semitic.
"I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks for the avalanche of goodwill messages from grassroots members," he said in a message to supporters.
"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.
— Chris Williamson MP #GTTO (@DerbyChrisW) June 27, 2019
Together anything is possible!
The most recent row about Mr Williamson began when footage appeared of him saying the party had been "too apologetic" about antisemitism.
WATCH: Chris Williamson tells a Sheffield Momentum meeting that Labour has been "too apologetic" about anti-Semitism... pic.twitter.com/zxtKdHQPvw
— Liz Bates (@wizbates) February 26, 2019
A Labour source said: "An NEC panel, advised by an independent barrister, found Chris Williamson had breached the party's rules and gave him a formal sanction. "He could face further, more severe, action if he repeats any similar comments or behaviour."
Labour MP Stella Creasy also suggested the timing of the case could be linked to the party's efforts to get candidates in place for the next election. MPs have been given until July 8 to say if they wish to seek re-selection in their seats.
Stella Creasy
Ms Creasy said: "The decision to let Chris Williamson back into party in time for him to stand again as a Labour candidate is best example yet of why we need an independent process for anti-Semitism and sexual harassment complaints and not mates' rates."
Amanda Bowman, vice president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: "This is an utter disgrace." Gideon Falter, chief executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: "The decision to reinstate him shows that the Labour Party's leadership holds British Jews in contempt and demonstrates that the Equality and Human Rights Commission was right to act on our referral and open a full statutory investigation into Labour's anti-Semitism crisis."
Tory leadership hopeful Boris Johnson said it was "shameful that Labour have reinstated this key Corbyn ally back into their party after his appalling remarks". "We must never allow these apologists for anti-Semitism anywhere near government," he said.
A Labour Party spokesman said: "The Labour Party takes all complaints extremely seriously, which are investigated in line with our rules and procedures. "We can't comment on individual cases."
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