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Grassroots Labour activists and MPs are piling pressure on Labour’s most senior figures to push for suspended MP Chris Williamson to be expelled from the party.

The controversial Left-winger — who claimed the party had been “too apologetic” for incidents of anti-Semitism — will have his case dealt with by Labour’s ruling body on Tuesday.

More than 1,500 members have so far written to Labour general secretary Jennie Formby through the centrist-run “Kick Out Chris” campaign asking for the National Executive Committee to escalate the complaint against him to their highest disciplinary group.

Their hope is that Mr Williamson, a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn, will ultimately be thrown out of the party.

Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge, who is Jewish, today told the Standard: “There has been a stream of occasions where he has said anti-Semitic things. This guy has got form. If you’re going to have zero tolerance of anti-Semitism I can’t see any other option than to put him through the due process. This is totally damaging to the Labour Party.”

Stephanie Lloyd, head of the Progress think-tank which is running the “Kick Out Chris” campaign, said: “The NEC now has the opportunity to do the right thing and show the party is finally taking a zero tolerance approach to anti-Semitism.”

Around 25 of the NEC’s 36 members will meet on Tuesday to decide whether to refer Mr Williamson to the National Constitutional Committee (NCC).

This body can slap harsh sanctions on an MP, including expulsion, if they are found to be in breach of party rules.

The former Labour shadow fire minister was suspended in February after being filmed saying the party had given “too much ground” and had been “too apologetic” over anti-Semitism.

Mr Williamson said he regretted his choice of words and apologised. He also backed a petition in support of anti-Semitic jazz musician Gilad Atzmon, which he also apologised for.

But there was an outcry within Labour when it emerged Mr Williamson had been allowed back into the party by three NEC members — including MP Keith Vaz — who overruled an officer’s recommendation that his case go to the NCC. After a backlash from MPS, he was suspended for a second time.

Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, deputy Labour leader Tom Watson is said to be pushing for a full escalation of Mr Williamson’s case to the NCC after more than 100 MPs and peers called for him to face the panel.

The party says it takes all cases of anti-Semitism seriously.