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Chris Williamson has been suspended from the Labour Party

It’s been a long time coming, but the Corbynite MP, Chris Williamson, has finally been suspended from Labour following his comments about anti-Semitism in the Party this week.

The suspension follows the emergence of a video yesterday which showed Williamson speaking at a Sheffield Momentum event, saying that Labour had been ‘too apologetic’ for anti-Semitism. That same day, Williamson had come under fire for booking a room in parliament for a film screening about the ‘unfair’ expulsion of former Labour member Jackie Walker, who had been suspended in 2016 for making alleged anti-Semitic comments on Facebook, and saying that Jews were responsible for the African slave-trade.

Williamson offered up a somewhat insincere apology earlier today for his comments in Sheffield, and the Labour leadership hinted that he may not be suspended until after an investigation. But after moderate Labour MPs spent the day calling for his head, it seems that the leadership has caved and suspended Williamson, pending an investigation.

Not a moment too soon, Mr S suggests.

UPDATE: Sky News have doorstepped Williamson while he was having a pint at the Red Lion pub. He has said that he’ll be working to clear his name.

Watch here:

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Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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