MP Ian Austin slams Labour's 'disgraceful' Williamson decision
Former Labour MP Ian Austin has described his old party's decision to lift Chris Williamson's suspension as "a disgrace".
Mr Austin, who quit Labour earlier this year, said the move showed that a party which once had a proud record of combatting racism had been "poisoned" under Jeremy Corbyn.
Mr Williamson was suspended in February after saying the party had been "too apologetic" in response to criticism over its handling of a series of anti-Semitism allegations.
He was issued with a formal warning but allowed back into the party after a hearing of a National Executive Committee (NEC) anti-Semitism panel.
The decision has been met with widespread criticism, with the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) reportedly set to ask the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to use statutory powers to investigate the lifting of Mr Williamson's suspension.
Dudley North MP Mr Austin, who is among those to urge Labour MPs to quit the party in opposition to its "failure" to deal with allegations of anti-Semitism, said: "It’s a disgrace that Chris Williamson is let off with a warning.
"It shows the extent to which a party which had a proud record on racism has been poisoned under Jeremy Corbyn. The only question is when decent Labour MPs will finally say enough is enough and do something about it."
'Appalling, outrageous, unacceptable'
Speaking on BBC's Newsnight, veteran Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge, said: "It is appalling, outrageous and unacceptable that he should be allowed back into the party.
"It's a cynical move done on the day that we all got our forms to say 'did we want to become Labour MPs again', and having him suspended meant that he could not become a Labour MP."
She added that Mr Corbyn could have the decision overturned.
"He could tomorrow get Chris Williamson suspended, he could tomorrow actually overturn the finding of this panel and he could get Chris Williamson expelled," she said.
Mr Williamson was suspended after video footage showed him telling a meeting of the grassroots Momentum group that Labour's reaction to anti-Semitism allegations had led to the party being "demonised".
He was also filmed saying he had celebrated the resignation of MP Joan Ryan, who quit Labour in February in protest over the handling of anti-Semitism and bullying complaints.
A Labour source said: "An NEC panel, advised by an independent barrister, found Chris Williamson had breached the party's rules and gave him a formal sanction.
"He could face further, more severe, action if he repeats any similar comments or behaviour."
Gideon Falter, chief executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: "The decision to reinstate him shows that the Labour Party's leadership holds British Jews in contempt and demonstrates that the Equality and Human Rights Commission was right to act on our referral and open a full statutory investigation into Labour's anti-Semitism crisis."
Anti-racism campaign group Hope Not Hate was also critical, calling the lifting of the suspension "wrong and alarming".
Tory leadership hopeful Boris Johnson said it was "shameful that Labour have reinstated this key Corbyn ally back into their party after his appalling remarks".
"We must never allow these apologists for anti-Semitism anywhere near government," he said.
Mr Williamson said he had received an "avalanche" of goodwill messages from grassroots Labour members since his suspension was lifted.
A Labour Party spokesman said: "The Labour Party takes all complaints extremely seriously, which are investigated in line with our rules and procedures.
"We can't comment on individual cases."
