Labour MP Chris Williamson has been branded "deeply offensive" by his own party for saying it has been “too apologetic” over the antisemitism row.
Party deputy leader Tom Watson said the Derby North MP had been “deliberately inflammatory” after footage of the speech Mr Williamson gave to campaign group Momentum last week, obtained by the Yorkshire Post, was published online.
WATCH: Chris Williamson tells a Sheffield Momentum meeting that Labour has been "too apologetic" about anti-Semitism... pic.twitter.com/zxtKdHQPvw
— Liz Bates (@wizbates) February 26, 2019
Barrister Adam Wagner said: "Only an institutionally antisemitic institution could let this stand without sanction."
Chris Williamson, the seemingly untouchable Corbyn ally, is filmed here saying Labour has been “too apologetic” over antisemitism
— Adam Wagner (@AdamWagner1) February 26, 2019
Here is a test, because only an institutionally antisemitic institution could let this stand without sanction pic.twitter.com/Bee30PyEY6
Mr Williamson also claimed to have reacted to the resignations of Labour MPs last week – who cited antisemitism as a factor – by singing Celebration by Kool & the Gang “at full blast”.
He said: “The party that’s done more to stand up to racism is now being demonised as a racist, bigoted party.
“I’ve got to say, I think our party’s response has been partly responsible for that because, in my opinion, we’ve backed off on too much.
“We’ve given too much ground. We’ve been too apologetic. We’ve done more to address the scourge of antisemitism than any other political party.”
He received a round of applause from the meeting, believed to have taken place in Sheffield.
Miram Mirwitch, chair of Young Labour, said it was "disgraceful" Mr Williamson had not been suspended, saying he had "shown no remorse, no recognition of what he's done and no desire to engage with the Jewish community".
It's disgraceful that Chris Williamson still has the Labour whip.
— Miriam Mirwitch (@mrwtch) February 26, 2019
He's shown no remorse, no recognition of what he's done and no desire to engage with the Jewish community.
Antisemitism has no place in our movement. That doesn't just mean listening to us. It also means action.
Wes Streeting, the Labour MP for Ilford North, described the footage as “stomach-turning”, predicting that Mr Williamson would not be disciplined over it.
A Labour spokesperson said: "These comments are deeply offensive and inappropriate and fall below the standards we expect of MPs.
"Downplaying the problem of antisemitism makes it harder for us to tackle it. Chris Williamson should apologise immediately and withdraw his remarks."
The Derby North MP was accused of “trolling the Jewish community” on Tuesday after it was revealed he had booked a committee room in the House of Commons for a screening of a documentary by Jackie Walker, who was suspended from the party over allegations of antisemitism.
If Labour wants to show it is serious about tackling anti-Semitism somebody needs to do something about Chris Williamson. https://t.co/vHJ7gO9fHK
— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) February 26, 2019
Anti-racism charity Hope Not Hate called on Labour to expel Mr Williamson, saying “this isn’t [Mr Williamson’s] first antisemitism scandal, and it’s unlikely to be his last”.
Matthew McGregor, Hope Not Hate’s campaigns director, told HuffPost UK: “If Labour is genuinely serious about removing the taint of antisemitism from its ranks, it should do the decent thing and expel Williamson from the party.”
In the documentary, titled Witchhunt, Ms Walker reportedly claims she is the victim of a politically-motivated attack aimed at removing Jeremy Corbyn as leader.
