Tom Watson: Williamson probe should take 'weeks not months'
Tom Watson has called for a speedy resolution to the Labour Party's inquiry into suspended MP Chris Williamson.
The Labour deputy leader said the investigation "has to be very quick", as he revealed he was seeking a meeting with Jeremy Corbyn to discuss making tackling anti-Semitism "the number one issue" for the party.
Derby MP Mr Williamson,a close ally of Mr Corbyn, was suspended by Labour last night over claims that the party has been "too apologetic" about anti-Semitism.
He is scheduled to appear at a West Midlands Fire Brigades Union event in Walsall tonight, alongside Labour's Walsall North parliamentary candidate Gill Ogilvie.
West Bromwich East MP Mr Watson had been one of many politicians – including the Prime Minister – to call for Mr Williamson's suspension after Labour initially refused.
Asked about the duration of the probe, he said: "I’m not going to set a date but I do know our general secretary is under a lot of pressure on this... I would imagine, in order to gather evidence and for him to have his case heard, it’s probably a matter of weeks.
"But it’s definitely weeks not months, in my view."
He added: "I've asked to see Jeremy on Monday next week to talk about how we can further improve our measures to deal with anti-Semitism."
Mr Watson said Mr Williamson was "entitled to a fair hearing", but added: "I've been very, very concerned that his comments have almost been deliberately inflammatory and causing offence to not just parliamentary colleagues but people in the Jewish community who understandably have a real concern about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party."
Labour was rocked last week when nine MPs resigned, including Dudley North MP Ian Austin, all of them citing Labour's failure to deal with anti-Semitism as a reason.
In a separate interview Mr Watson said: "I don't think we can apologise enough for anti-Semitism in our ranks.
"The only way we will rebuild trust with the British Jewish community is to deal with anti-Semitism as the number one issue in my party.
"And I'm going to do it, because I'm not going to allow half a million Labour Party members to be tainted by racism. I owe it to them to speak out.
"I've said there's a battle for Labour's soul. I'm worried that colleagues feel they want to go.
"I'm doing everything I can to make sure that they feel they're part of a movement that is a century old and millions wide.
"I'm doing my best, but we are perilously close to other colleagues leaving. I just say to them again 'Stay and fight your corner'."
