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		</div><p>A prominent ally of Jeremy Corbyn is facing investigation by the party after he apologised for suggesting Labour had “given too much ground” in its response to complaints of anti-Semitism.</p>
<p>Derby North MP Chris Williamson regretted his “choice of words” and insisted he had not intended to minimise the seriousness of anti-Semitism.</p>
<p>But his apology was rejected as “half-hearted” by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, which sent a formal complaint calling for Mr Corbyn to withdraw the Labour whip.</p>
<p>And there was a furious response from Labour MPs, with deputy leader Tom Watson saying the apology was “not good enough” and issuing a formal request for Mr Williamson’s suspension.</p>
<p><a href="https://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/FF1FC3E6-6F45-4FFC-869A-DD0138650451.jpeg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-126882" src="https://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/FF1FC3E6-6F45-4FFC-869A-DD0138650451.jpeg" alt="" width="1074" height="1430" /></a></p>
<p>Labour had already branded Mr Williamson’s actions as “completely unacceptable” after he booked a room in Parliament for the screening of a film about an activist suspended over anti-Semitism complaints.</p>
<p>And the row was reignited by video footage showing him telling a meeting of the grassroots Momentum group that Labour’s reaction to anti-Semitism allegations had been “too apologetic” and had led to the party being “demonised”.</p>
<p>The video, obtained by the Yorkshire Post, was recorded at a meeting in Sheffield in the wake of last week’s resignation of eight Labour MPs to join the Independent Group.</p>
<p>Mr Williamson was also filmed saying he had celebrated the resignation of MP Joan Ryan, who quit Labour in protest over the handling of anti-Semitism and bullying complaints.</p>
<p>Theresa May seized on the issue during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, challenging Mr Corbyn to suspend the man he once praised as a “very good, very effective Labour MP”.</p>
<p><a href="https://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/EFBDCF12-458A-4992-8824-D22B892BFE72.jpeg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-126880" src="https://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/EFBDCF12-458A-4992-8824-D22B892BFE72.jpeg" alt="" width="1069" height="1483" /></a></p>
<p>Moments before the PM spoke, Mr Williamson issued a statement insisting he had been “an anti-racist all my life” and that it pained him to think that anyone should believe he intended to “minimise the cancerous and pernicious nature of anti-Semitism”.</p>
<p>Promising to be “more considered in my remarks” in future, Mr Williamson said: “I deeply regret, and apologise for, my recent choice of words when speaking about how the Labour Party has responded to the ongoing fight against anti-Semitism inside of our party. I was trying to stress how much the party has done to tackle anti-Semitism.</p>
<p>“Our movement can never be ‘too apologetic’ about racism within our ranks. Whilst it is true that there have been very few cases of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party – something I believe is often forgotten when discussing this issue – it is also true that those few are too many.”</p>
<p>A Labour spokesman said that Mr Williamson had been issued with a “notice of investigation for a pattern of behaviour”, but has not been suspended from the party.</p>
<p>The spokesman said the comments were “deeply offensive” and that “downplaying the problem of anti-Semitism makes it harder for us to tackle it”.</p>
<p>He added: “Chris Williamson has rightly apologised and</p>
<p>withdrawn his remarks, and has been issued with a notice of investigation for a pattern of behaviour, and is not suspended during the investigation.”</p>
<p>But Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson tweeted: “Chris Williamson has produced a long-winded and heavily caveated apology. It is not good enough. If it was in my gift I would have removed the whip from him already.”</p>
<p>And Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl said: “Chris Williamson trolls those who oppose anti-Semitism, repeatedly siding with the anti-Semites over the Jews. The two issues reported yesterday were just the latest in a long series of offences.</p>
<p>“Jeremy Corbyn must remove the whip at once if he wants to retain the faintest image of himself as an anti-racist. Anything less removes any semblance of leadership and reveals only the most naked moral cowardice.”</p>
<p>Ruth Smeeth, vice-chairwoman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, branded Mr Williamson “a disgrace” and said “he needs to go”.</p>
<p>She told BBC Radio 5 Live: “He is now becoming notorious for Jew-baiting, for saying things which are completely and utterly outrageous, for aligning himself with people who are incredibly offensive.”</p>
<p>And she added: “Those views are incompatible with the aims and values of the Labour Party. He has no place in my party. He should leave. I really hope that we’ll see the whip removed today.</p>
<p>“I think that that is the least that they can do to start salvaging the reputation of the Labour Party on this issue.”</p>
<p>Senior backbencher Dame Margaret Hodge said she had written to chief whip Nick Brown to call for the removal of the whip from Mr Williamson.</p>
<p>And former deputy leader Harriet Harman warned: “We are supposed to be rebuilding the shattered confidence of the Jewish community in Labour. This will only further undermine it.”</p>
<p>Mr Williamson was first elected MP for Derby North in 2010, but was unseated in the 2015 general election.</p>
<p>He ran again in 2017, this time receiving a visit from Mr Corbyn during the general election campaign, and won.</p>
<p>Mr Williamson was later made a shadow emergency services minister, but left by mutual agreement six months later after suggesting council tax should be doubled on more expensive homes.</p>
<p> ;</p>
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