A second Labour MP is facing disciplinary action after clashing with the party leadership over its stance on antisemitism.
Ian Austin, a former minister who lost family members in the Holocaust, was sent a letter from Labour bosses, which said he was being investigated for “abusive conduct” in parliament.
The row is understood to stem from a clash between the Dudley MP and Labour chairman Ian Lavery, where Mr Austin reportedly said the handling of antisemitism was a “bloody disgrace” and the party had become a “sewer”.
It comes after a similar probe was launched into comments by senior Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge, who called Jeremy Corbyn a “racist and an antisemite” in an angry outburst over the party’s attitude to anti-Jewish sentiment.
Labour has become embroiled in a bitter row over changes to its party rulebook, which centre on whether it should adopt in full an internationally recognised definition of antisemitism.
The party faced a major backlash from the Jewish community when its ruling body voted to adopt a code that did not directly include four of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) 11 examples of antisemitic behaviour.
Party officials insist these examples are covered elsewhere in the document, which “expands and contextualises” the definition.
Mr Austin has been vocal in his criticism of the decision, saying every member of the party “should be ashamed” by the offence and distress caused to the Jewish community.
Soon after the row with Mr Lavery, he received a letter from general secretary Jennie Formby, which said: “You should be aware that any future behaviour of a similar nature to the allegation above could result in further disciplinary action, including the possibility of administrative suspension while the matter is investigated.”
Mr Austin told The Observer: “Wouldn’t it be great if they dealt with the people responsible for racism as quickly as they dealt with the people who are understandably upset about it?
“I am angry about antisemitism and I am angry that the Labour Party can’t deal with it adequately.”
A Labour spokesperson said: “The Labour Party takes all complaints extremely seriously. These are fully investigated in line with party rules and procedures.”
Meanwhile, party bosses are locked in a legal battle with Dame Margaret, whose lawyers say the probe is “a veiled attempt to silence her”.
The Jewish MP, who also lost relatives in the Holocaust, has suggested Mr Corbyn does not want “people like me” in the party.
The decision on the antisemitism code led the country’s three most prominent Jewish newspapers to join forces to warn that a Labour government would pose “an existential threat to Jewish life in this country”.
It also prompted Jewish MPs Louise Ellman and Ruth Smeeth to table an emergency motion to the parliamentary Labour party, demanding that the IHRA definition be adopted in full.
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