Jeremy Corbyn wants to install an activist who defended Ken Livingstone on anti-Semitism claims as Labour discipline chief.
His office is lining up Claudia Webbe to take over as chairman of the disputes panel, sources said yesterday.
It comes just a week after Christine Shawcroft was forced out of the role after opposing the suspension of an alleged Holocaust denier.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (pictured left) is lining up Claudia Webbe (right) to take over as chairman of the party’s disputes panel, sources said yesterday
Pictured: Claudia Webbe is pictured hugging party leader Jeremy Corbyn
Miss Webbe is a former adviser to ex-mayor of London Mr Livingstone and worked on his election bids in 2000 and 2004.
Now she is a Labour councillor in Islington, where Mr Corbyn is MP, and describes herself as a passionate supporter of the ‘Corbyn project’.
The leader’s backing for her comes despite the fact she stood up for Mr Livingstone when he was suspended in 2005 for comparing a Jewish reporter to a Nazi concentration camp guard.
She wrote to The Guardian, saying the suspension ‘smacked in the face of true democracy’, adding: ‘His history of work in the anti-racist movement is unquestionable.’
If Mr Corbyn gets his way, Miss Webbe would be in charge of the process by which those accused of anti-Semitism, including Mr Livingstone, are suspended or expelled.
The leader’s backing for her comes despite the fact she stood up for Mr Livingstone (pictured in 2016) when he was suspended in 2005 for comparing a Jewish reporter to a Nazi concentration camp guard
The Daily Mail can also reveal that Miss Webbe spoke at an event alongside Marc Wadsworth and Jackie Walker, two Labour members suspended for anti-Semitism.
At the event, in Liverpool last year, Miss Walker accused opponents of Mr Corbyn of ‘weaponising’ anti-Semitism claims to destroy his leadership.
A source said: ‘The Leader of the Opposition office are pushing Claudia Webbe.’ She is now frontrunner to be chairman of the disputes panel on Labour’s National Executive Committee.
Miss Webbe defended Mr Livingstone in 2005 after he accused a Jewish reporter of behaving like a ‘concentration camp guard’.
On tape he was heard asking Oliver Finegold if he was a ‘German war criminal’. Mr Finegold replied: ‘No, I’m Jewish, I wasn’t a German war criminal.
‘I’m quite offended by that.’ Mr Livingstone said: ‘Ah right, well you might be, but actually you are just like a concentration camp guard, you are just doing it because you are paid to, aren’t you?’
It comes just a week after Christine Shawcroft (pictured) was forced out of the role after opposing the suspension of an alleged Holocaust denier
The Board of Deputies president said at the time: ‘I find his language appalling. This man’s insensitivity appears to know no bounds at all.’
Mr Livingstone refused to apologise, and the Adjudication Panel for England found him guilty of bringing his office into disrepute and suspended him for a month.
The High Court overturned the decision, but two years ago he was accused of anti-Semitism again. He remains suspended from Labour.
Last year Miss Webbe attended a conference run by Marc Wadsworth, co-chairman of Momentum splinter group Black Connexions – after Mr Wadsworth was suspended following anti-Semitism claims.
Another speaker, Jackie Walker, was suspended for saying Jews financed the slave trade.
Miss Walker told the meeting claims of anti-Semitism in Labour were ‘exaggerated for political purposes … to undermine Jeremy’.
A decision on the appointment is expected to be made next month.
Last night a Labour spokesman declined to comment.
If Mr Corbyn (pictured yesterday) gets his way, Miss Webbe would be in charge of the process by which those accused of anti-Semitism, including Mr Livingstone, are suspended or expelled