This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Almost 500 Labour supporters of Jeremy Corbyn have signed an open letter apologising to the Jewish community for the party’s “collective failure” over tackling antisemitism.

The initiative came after Labour MP Chris Williamson was suspended after appearing to downplay the significance of complaints, saying the party had been “too apologetic” over antisemitism.

Some of the Labour MPs who quit the party last week cited a failure to deal properly with the issue, with Luciana Berger, a Jewish MP, branding the party “sickeningly institutionally racist”.

The letter, signed by nearly 500 Labour members so far, said: “We are Labour members who support Jeremy Corbyn in his leadership and the progressive, socialist programme and anti-racist principles of the Labour party.

“We have seen antisemitism from Labour members and supporters, online or offline. We recognise that as a movement we have been too slow to acknowledge this problem, too tolerant of the existence of antisemitic views within our ranks, too defensive and too eager to downplay it.

“We sincerely apologise to the Jewish community, and our Jewish comrades in the party, for our collective failure on this issue to date.”

Play Video 0:41 Chris Williamson says Labour has been 'too apologetic' about antisemitism – video

The initiative was supported by Momentum, the grassroots group of Corbyn supporters, with many sharing the hashtag #Socialists4Change, amid deep anguish in the party about its approach to antisemitism. Momentum also released a video online debunking antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Tom Watson, the Labour deputy leader, said on Thursday that he regarded Berger’s departure last week as “the worst day of shame in the party’s 120-year history”.

He told Radio 5: “It is a badge of shame that Luciana Berger, a bright, young, female, pregnant MP, was bullied out of her own constituency by racist thugs, and I’m not putting up with it.”

He went on to accuse Williamson of having been “deliberately inflammatory” over antisemitism in the party and described Labour as “currently mired in a racism scandal”.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live that disciplinary action should be concluded swiftly against the Derby North MP, who had the whip removed and was suspended from the party.

“It’s definitely weeks, not months, in my view,” Watson said. Although he said Williamson should be allowed to present his case in a formal hearing, the deputy leader condemned his comments.

In the footage, first revealed by the Yorkshire Post, Williamson was applauded by activists in Sheffield when he said: “I’ve got to say, I think our party’s response has been partly responsible … Because, in my opinion, we’ve backed off far too much, we’ve given too much ground, we’ve been too apologetic.”

Watson said: “I’ve seen his recent contributions that have appeared online and was very concerned it was almost like he was being deliberately inflammatory, deliberately trying to cause offence to people who are concerned about antisemitism – not just the Jewish community but people who are fighting racism in their daily political lives.”

He added: “I’m very clear – his behaviour in my view was unacceptable, which is why it was absolutely right for the whip to be removed and him to be suspended.”

Williamson, a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn, remains popular with some Labour members. On the MP’s Facebook page, of 800 comments under his apology for the comments, the vast majority were supportive, and many condemned Watson.

In his first comment after the suspension, Williamson tweeted thanks to Labour members and supporters “for the incredible solidarity you have shown me over the last 48 hours”, adding a link to a song popular in the US civil rights movement, Keep Your Eyes on the Prize.

Chris Williamson MP #GTTO (@DerbyChrisW) I want to thank grassroots Labour Party members and supporters from the bottom of my heart for the incredible solidarity you have shown me over the last 48 hours.

My message is this:

Keep your eyes on the prize and hold on because #ChangeIsCominghttps://t.co/WBBKoCpN5E

Williamson issued his apology on Wednesday over the filmed comments. Shortly afterwards, a spokesman for Corbyn announced Williamson had been issued with a “notice of investigation”; but he would remain a Labour member.

Several backbenchers told the Guardian they were convinced Corbyn himself had been involved in the decision not to suspend Williamson immediately. But a Labour spokesman insisted: “Jeremy did not intervene.”

The party announced his suspension on Wednesday evening following an outcry from a series of Labour MPs, 38 of whom wrote jointly to the Labour general secretary, Jennie Formby, to demand the move.

Williamson was also facing complaints about having booked a room in parliament to screen a controversial film about Jackie Walker, an activist suspended from the party.

Watson deflected a series of questions on Radio 5 about whether Corbyn should speak out more strongly on the issue, and condemn Williamson, saying: “He’s not letting me down. He has to make his own decisions.”