Chris Williamson posts fake Mandela quote linking Israel with apartheid

After posting his latest attack on Israel on his Twitter feed on September 2 Mr Williamson received a stream of complaints on his social media feed.

He later removed the quote and replaced it with a shorter, genuine Mandela quote which did not compare Israel to apartheid-era South Africa.

MPs demanded that Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party leader, take urgent action over Mr Williamson over his interview in last week’s Guardian newspaper in which he said antisemitism claims within the part where smears used by those attempting to “weaponise” the issue for political reasons.

Mr Williamson said: "I’m not saying it never ever happens but it is a really dirty, lowdown trick, particularly the antisemitism smears."

On Sunday Stoke-On-Trent MP Ruth Smeeth confirmed at the Jewish Labour Movement conference that she would be raising the issue “with the Chief Whip, and with the leader of the Labour Party."

Ms Smeeth – who has faced death threats and was forced to move house following antisemitic incidents – will call for action against Mr Williamson at Tuesday’s meeting of the PLP.

The Board, the JLC and the JLM all issued statements condemning Mr Williamson.