In the week when Jewish MP Luciana Berger defected to the breakaway Independent Group, saying she had become “embarrassed and ashamed to remain in the Labour party”, Williamson was filmed saying Labour had been “too apologetic”, about antisemitism. Several backbenchers told the Guardian they were convinced Corbyn himself had been involved in the decision not to suspend Williamson immediately. The Labour leader told Williamson’s local paper, the Derby Telegraph, in January: “Chris Williamson is a very good, very effective Labour MP. After his suspension was announced several hours later, Labour MP Wes Streeting said: “This is very welcome, however overdue. She and Corbyn came under pressure throughout Wednesday to suspend Williamson immediately, while a series of complaints against him were considered.

Source: The Guardian February 27, 2019 17:29 UTC