A Labour pressure group today launched a campaign to kick Chris Williamson out of the party as infighting over its handling of anti-Semitism intensified.
The key ally of leader Jeremy Corbyn has been given a formal warning and allowed back in to Labour after being suspended in February for saying the party had been “too apologetic” on the issue.
Progress, set up in 1996 to support Tony Blair’s New Labour, is inviting members via a “Kick Out Chris” website to write to Labour general secretary Jennie Formby to request his expulsion. So far 600 letters have been sent.
Progress’s director Stephanie Lloyd told the Evening Standard: “The decision to reinstate the Labour whip for Chris Williamson is just another example of how open to abuse the party’s disciplinary procedures are for political gain.”
A three-person panel of the party’s National Executive Committee decided that Mr Williamson did not need to be referred to the next level of its complaints system, which has the power to expel members.
