Jeremy Corbyn ally Chris Williamson LOSES High Court battle to be reinstated in the Labour party after being suspended during the anti-Semitism scandal
- Ruling could stop him from standing in his Derby North seat in any snap election
- He accused Labour of using ‘using every loophole in the book’ to keep him out
- MP was suspended in February after saying Labour had been ‘too apologetic’
One of Jeremy Corbyn’s close allies has lost a legal battle to be reinstated in the Labour Party after being suspended during its anti-Semitism scandal.
Chris Williamson’s loss of the party whip was upheld at the High Court today – potentially stopping him from standing in his Derby North seat in any snap Brexit election.
He accused Labour of using ‘using every loophole in the book’ to keep him from returning to the party after an investigation was launched into his behaviour.
The MP was suspended in February after he claimed that Labour had been ‘too apologetic’ in response to criticism of its handling of anti-Semitism allegations.
Mr Williamson, 63, took to Twitter after today’s ruling, which he fought using money donated by supporters, saying: ‘This is a damning indictment of our party’s internal disciplinary procedures, which require a total overhaul – towards a fairer, more independent and more democratic system.
‘My suspension must now be lifted.’
He accused Labour of using ‘using every loophole in the book’ to keep him from returning to the party after an investigation was launched into his behaviour
The MP, a vocal ally of Jeremy Corbyn (pictured today) was suspended in February after he claimed that Labour had been ‘too apologetic’ in response to criticism of its handling of anti-Semitism allegations
Mr Williamson was readmitted to the party and issued with a formal warning following a hearing of a National Executive Committee (NEC) anti-Semitism panel in June – prompting an outcry from MPs, peers and Jewish groups.
But he was suspended again in July after a second panel reviewed the decision to reinstate him and found it ‘cannot safely stand’.
Labour also imposed a separate suspension on September 3 over additional allegations of misconduct.
At a hearing in September, Mr Williamson’s lawyers argued that his treatment had been ‘manifestly unfair’ and asked the High Court to declare his suspension from the party was void.
Giving judgment on Thursday, Mr Justice Pepperall ruled that ‘the Labour Party acted unfairly in that there was no proper reason for reopening the case against Mr Williamson’.
However, the judge found that there was ‘nothing in the new allegations, the timing of the letter of 3 September or the decision to suspend that entitles me to take the view upon the papers that the Labour Party is acting either unfairly or other than in good faith’.
He added: ‘I therefore refuse relief in respect of Mr Williamson’s recent re-suspension. The new disciplinary case must run its course.’
Euan Philipps, spokesman for campaign group Labour Against Antisemitism, said: ‘Today’s High Court judgement, that the suspension of Chris Williamson MP must continue and that the disciplinary process must run its course, is welcome.
‘We hope that the Labour Party will now expel Mr Williamson as quickly as possible – along with the hundreds of cases of reported antisemitism our volunteers have submitted which remain undealt with.’
A Labour Party spokeswoman said: ‘The court has upheld Chris Williamson’s suspension from the party and has said his disciplinary case must run its course.’