The Labour councillor the JC exposed joking about "Jew process" at a meeting has had her party suspenson lifted and been given a formal warning about her behaviour.

Cllr Jo Bird, who sits on Wirral Council, was suspended after the JC published audio of an event where she won laughter and applause for her remarks, in which she also tried to rewrite the words of the famous post-Holocaust poem "First The Came For.." by the German Lutheran Pastor Martin Niemöller.

Her version removed the reference to Jews and replaced with "anti-Zionists".

She also that pro-Corbyn, fringe group Jewish Voice for Labour, of which she is a member, was calling for Labour to "pause" disciplinary hearings into antisemitism "until a due process has been established" and joked: "It's what I call a Jew process." 

Listen to the recording

After the JC ran audio of her remarks - which were made last year at a meeting in support of an activist expelled from the party after a confrontation with a Jewish MP - Ms Bird's comments sparked fury.

She was suspended on March 4.

Her case went to a disciplinary which gave her the formal warning, which would be considered were she investigated for any repeat behaviour. The JC also understands she apologised for her remarks.

She gave a speech to Wirral councillors after the recording was made public, saying she receives abusive messages such as "it's time for Jews to leave the country" and another calling her a "Nazi".

She added: “This Birdie has a self-deprecating sense of humour. I am sorry for any offence caused by my play on words – that was not my intention.”

A Labour spokesperson would not comment on individual cases but said: "The Labour Party takes all complaints of antisemitism extremely seriously and we are committed to challenging and campaigning against it in all its forms.

"All complaints about antisemitism are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken."