MP should lose the whip, says Board chief

THE BOARD of Deputies president has called for the whip to be removed from an outspoken left-wing Labour MP who called for Ken Livingstone and Jackie Walker to be readmitted to the party.

Chris Williamson, a pro-Jeremy Corbyn MP, was speaking at a Momentumorganised event in Peterborough last Saturday when he said it was a “real pleasure and a privilege” to be sharing a platform with Ms Walker. She is facing expulsion from the party over allegations of antisemitism.

In a speech to activists, Mr Williamson insisted he would be “absolutely delighted” if Ms Walker was allowed to rejoin Labour, adding: “We’ve got these ridiculous suspensions and expulsions from the party… in the most grotesque and unfair way. Jackie is one, and Ken Livingstone is yet another.”

Reacting to the comments, Jonathan Arkush, Board president, said: “Sadly, this is the kind of behaviour we have come to expect from Chris Williamson.

“We called for him to be sacked last year from the shadow cabinet over outrageous comments labelling claims of antisemitism in Labour ‘a dirty lowdown trick’.

“His actions since have confirmed that he is an embarrassment to his own party and the party should consider further sanctions against Mr Williamson, including a public rebuke and the removal of the Labour whip.”

Mr Williamson had agreed to attend the event despite local MP Fiona Onasanya pulling out citing “concerns” over the speakers.