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Ninety Labour MPs and peers today demanded Jeremy Corbyn intervene and order a fresh review into controversial MP Chris Williamson.

A joint statement called on Labour 's leader to "show leadership" after Mr Williamson was readmitted to the party despite an anti-Semitism row.

The Derby North MP was suspended in February after suggesting Labour had been "too apologetic" over anti-Semitism.

A discipline panel found he broke Labour rules - but issued him with a "formal warning" and restored his membership.

Today's statement, led by deputy Labour leader Tom Watson, said there are "questions about the fairness of the process" which is "mired by the appearance of political interference."

Calling for Jeremy Corbyn to remove the Labour whip from Mr Williamson, it added: "Justice needs to be seen to be done and this process has not done that.

(Image: REUTERS)

"It is clear to us that the Labour Party’s disciplinary process remains mired by the appearance of political interference. This must stop. We need a truly independent process.

"We call on Jeremy Corbyn to show leadership by asking for this inappropriate, offensive and reputationally damaging decision to be overturned and reviewed."

It comes after the Hope Not Hate group branded last night's decision "wrong and alarming" while the Board of Deputies of British Jews called it an "utter disgrace". Jewish Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge last night branded the move "appalling, outrageous and unacceptable".

Ms Hodge told the BBC: "It is appalling, outrageous and unacceptable that he should be allowed back into the party.

"It's a cynical move done on the day that we all got our forms to say 'did we want to become Labour MPs again', and having him suspended meant that he could not become a Labour MP."

Yet Mr Williamson today branded Ms Hodge's comments a "grotesque slur" and did not apologise when challenged repeatedly by BBC Radio Derby.

He branded it an "internal party matter" and said he had been "inundated" with messages of support. He added: "I want to put this behind me and focus on getting a Labour government elected."

(Image: PA)

Mr Williamson's case was not decided by Labour's highest discipline body, the National Constitutional Committee.

Questions are now being raised over the three-person panel that made the decision to readmit him.

Sources said it comprised three members of the party's ruling NEC - MPs Keith Vaz and George Howarth and members' rep Huda Elmi.

A briefing war erupted over who was responsible on the panel, whose composition was changed at short notice due to a diary clash with one of the members.

It has emerged Ms Elmi branded the Equality and Human Rights Commission a "failed experiment" after the watchdog announced an anti-Semitism probe into Labour.

She tweeted on March 7: "If tomorrow it were to cease in existence, most of the people it was created to support wouldn’t even notice.

"We need to abolish it & bring back separate, well resourced governmental bodies for each equality strand!"

Labour MP Wes Streeting suggested the decision was a "fix".

But one NEC member insisted it was a "red herring" to blame allies of the leadership for the "terrible decision".

The source claimed: "Party staff recommended that he be referred to the NCC.

"Keith Vaz, who is a long time operator on the Labour right,opposed it."

Mr Williamson's reinstatement came just in time for MPs to confirm they want to stand as Labour candidates at the next election.

Labour MP Stella Creasy also suggested the timing of the case could be linked to the party's efforts to get candidates in place for the next election.

Jewish Labour MP Alex Sobel said: "In the face of an EHRC investigation it seems its acceptable to say you believe that the party has been ‘too apologetic’ about anti-semitism like Chris Williamson did.

"It's spitting in my face and the face of the Jewish Community."

A Labour Party spokesman said: "The Labour Party takes all complaints extremely seriously, which are investigated in line with our rules and procedures.

"We can’t comment on individual cases."

Mr Williamson hit back today on Twitter , saying: "I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks for the avalanche of goodwill messages from grassroots members," he wrote.

"I can now focus on representing local people in Derby Nth and working for a Corbyn-led Labour govt to positively transform the lives of millions.

"Together anything is possible!"

The statement in full and all 90 signatories

We cannot overstate the depth and breadth of hurt and anger felt about the readmission of Chris Williamson into the Labour Party and the questions that arise about the fairness of the process.

The officer recommendation - that Chris Williamson should be referred to the National Constitutional Committee for action - was ignored by the members of the NEC panel. That the composition of that panel was changed at short notice seems highly irregular.

Justice needs to be seen to be done and this process has not done that.

Given that the Labour Party is being investigated by the EHRC over allegations of institutional antisemitism this case is particularly important.

It is clear to us that the Labour Party’s disciplinary process remains mired by the appearance of political interference. This must stop. We need a truly independent process.

We call on Jeremy Corbyn to show leadership by asking for this inappropriate, offensive and reputationally damaging decision to be overturned and reviewed.

Ultimately, it is for Jeremy Corbyn to decide whether Chris Williamson retains the Labour whip. He must remove it immediately if we are to stand any hope of persuading anyone that the Labour Party is taking antisemitism seriously.

Tom Watson

Holly Lynch

Stella Creasy

Anna Turley

Rosie Duffield

Louise Ellman

Ruth Smeeth

Jenny Chapman

Roberta Blackman-Woods

Stephen Doughty

Karin Smyth

Baroness Thornton

Lord McNicol

Baroness Morgan of Huyton

Lord Turnberg

Gloria De Piero

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon

Yvette Cooper

Baroness Massey of Darwen

Baroness Kingsmill

Lord Soley

Madeleine Moon

Kate Green

Ruth Cadbury

Owen Smith

Seema Malhotra

Liz Kendall

Chris Matheson

Margaret Hodge

Stephen Kinnock

Jeff Smith

Chris Bryant

Wes Streeting

Julie Elliot

Lord Levy

Lord Knight of Weymouth

Lord Harris of Haringey

Ali McGovern

James Frith

Lucy Powell

Bridget Philipson

Pat McFadden

Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall

Lord Triesman

Lord Dubs

Ian Murray

Darren Jones

Alex Sobel

Karen Buck

Neil Coyle

Lord Mandelson

Anna McMorrin

Chi Onwura

Baroness Taylor of Bolton

Lord Willie Bach

Susan Elan Jones

Ged Killen

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale

Lord Livermore

Kevin Barron

Dan Jarvis

Jess Philips

Martin Whitfield

Rachel Reeves

Peter Kyle

Baroness Armstrong of Hilltop

Lord Young of Norwood Green

Lord Levy

Baroness Maggie Jones

Rushanara Ali

Debbie Abrahams

Daniel Zeichner

Rushanara Ali

Lillian Greenwood

Graham Jones

Toby Perkins

Lord George Robertson

Baroness Mary Goudie

Barry Sheerman

Tonia Antionazzi

Ian Lucas

Lord George Foulkes

Lord Wood of Anfield

Cat McKinnell

Ben Bradshaw

Lord Haskell

Lisa Nandy

Gareth Thomas

Lord Brooke

Sharon Hodgson

Ellie Reeves