Chris Williamson (politician)

Last updated

Chris Williamson
Official portrait of Chris Williamson crop 2.jpg
Official portrait, 2017
Deputy Leader of the Workers Party of Britain
Incumbent
Assumed office
13 December 2023
ServingwithAndy Hudd and Peter Ford
Spouse
Lonny Wilsoncroft
​
​
(m. 1997;died 2004)​
Domestic partnerMaggie Amsbury [3]
Alma mater Leicester Polytechnic

Christopher Williamson (born 16 September 1956) is a British politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Derby North from 2010 to 2015 [4] and again from 2017 [5] to 2019. [6] He was Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government from October 2010 to October 2013. [5] Williamson was previously a local councillor in Derby, representing the Normanton ward from 1991 until 2011 [7] and serving twice as leader of Derby City Council.

Contents

In February 2019, Williamson was notified of a formal investigation and later suspended from the Labour Party for his comments about the party's response to criticism over its handling of allegations of antisemitism within the party. [8] After an investigation, Williamson was reinstated in June 2019 with a formal warning [9] but was resuspended two days later when the party decided to review the disciplinary decision. [10] In October 2019, Williamson won a High Court challenge to the legality of the review of the disciplinary decision [11] but similar charges had been made on 3 September 2019, involving a further suspension; the High Court ruled the Labour Party's disciplinary procedure with regard to these charges should run its course. In November that year, Labour's National Executive Committee blocked Williamson from standing as a Labour candidate in the 2019 general election. [12] He resigned from the Labour Party and stood as an Independent, losing the seat and his deposit. [13]

Williamson currently hosts the programme Palestine Declassified on the Iranian government-owned TV channel PressTV. He has been a Deputy Leader of the Workers Party of Britain since December 2023. [14] He stood for the party in the Derby South constituency in the 2024 general election, [15] finishing third.

Early life and career

Born in Derby, Williamson attended the St. John Fisher Primary School in Alvaston, Castle Donington High School and St. Thomas More High School in Allenton. After working as a craft apprentice for a year from 1972, Williamson then worked as a bricklayer for six years. He continued his education at Leicester Polytechnic (now De Montfort University), where he obtained a professional social work qualification (a CQSW) in 1985.[ citation needed ] He was a social worker in Derby from 1983 to 1986 before working as a welfare rights officer.

Williamson joined the Labour Party in 1976. He became a councillor on Derby City Council in 1991. Appointed Chair of Housing, he supported private finance initiative (PFI) projects. [16] Interviewed in 2018, he termed his approach then as "innovative pragmatism", seeking to "be as radical as we possibly could within the confines that we were subjected to by central government", arguing that "It was a bullshit scheme—I wouldn't have chosen it at all. It didn't give value for money. But what were we supposed to do as a local authority? We either [do it or] say we are not going to build these schools or we are not going to refurbish these unfit dwellings." [16]

He became leader of the Labour Group on Derby City Council, serving as leader of the council on two separate occasions. While council leader, Williamson presided over a coalition with the Conservatives for two years after Labour lost its majority in 2006. [17] He was instrumental in setting up Holocaust Memorial Day events in the city. [18]

Parliamentary career

First term (2010–2015)

In the 2010 general election, Williamson was elected for Derby North with a majority of 613 over the Conservative candidate.

Williamson supported Ed Miliband in the 2010 Labour leadership election. [19]

In October 2010, Williamson became Shadow Fire and Emergency Services Minister within the Shadow Communities and Local Government team after just four months as an MP but, after a reshuffle of the shadow cabinet in 2013, was replaced by Lyn Brown. [20] He served as a member of the Communities and Local Government Committee between July and November 2010 and from November 2013 to March 2015. [5]

In 2014, Williamson voted to support the Cameron coalition's 2011 military intervention in Libya and the British action against ISIS in Iraq. In April 2018, Williamson said that, while he was initially undetermined, he was "naive" to support the votes. He abstained on the Immigration Bill in 2014, following an instruction from Labour whips, saying later: "I have to say—if I'm being honest—I didn't study it enough or fully appreciate the implications." [16]

Williamson was one of 16 signatories of an open letter to Ed Miliband in January 2015 calling on the party to oppose further austerity, take rail franchises back into public ownership and strengthen collective bargaining arrangements. [21]

At the 2015 general election, Williamson lost the Derby North seat to Amanda Solloway of the Conservative Party by 41 votes. Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn described Williamson in early 2016 as a "very great friend", saying that his defeat at the 2015 general election was "the worst result of that night". [22]

Second term (2017–2019)

During the 2017 general election campaign, he was described by the New Statesman as the "most pro-Jeremy Corbyn candidate in England's most marginal constituency". [23] Williamson said that his candidacy would be a "test case for Corbynism", [24] and Corbyn campaigned for him. [16] Williamson regained his former seat from Amanda Solloway of the Conservatives with a majority of 2,015 votes.

On 3 July 2017, Williamson was appointed Shadow Fire and Emergency Services Minister. [25] [26] Williamson resigned this role on 11 January 2018. A day earlier he said that council tax on the highest-value homes should be doubled. The comment, which was not party policy and outside his remit, was made without the knowledge of Andrew Gwynne, the shadow secretary of state for communities and local government. When the issue was raised, Williamson, rather than agree to confine his public statements to his own policy area, resigned. He said: "I've taken this decision to bring me closer to the membership of our party and to allow me to work on a broader range of issues, from environmental policy to animal rights and local government." [27]

In April 2018, Williamson voiced doubts that the Syrian government was responsible for the gas attack on Douma. [28] In August 2018, he said it was a "privilege" to hear a talk by a pro-Assad blogger, Vanessa Beeley. [29] [30] [31]

He says that, with Corbyn as leader, the party has "a common-sense socialist" who does not place MPs in the situation of risking being in conflict with the party whips. Williamson said he is "not one for undermining the leadership publicly", explaining the difference between his history in the division lobbies and Corbyn's earlier frequent parliamentary vote rebellions as Corbyn expressing the opinions of party members. [16]

Williamson supported a mandatory reselection process for all Labour MPs. In 2018, Williamson, Fire Brigades Union leader Matt Wrack and ASLEF president Tosh McDonald toured England and Wales to promote this and other internal reforms which would provide "greater democracy and accountability within the party". Williamson said the tour, which was titled The Democracy Roadshow, would promote "common sense socialism" in the Labour movement and "ensure the "transformative" change promised by Mr Corbyn can be delivered in government". [32] [33]

Views on handling of antisemitism allegations

In 2017, Williamson said that attacks on Corbyn's handling of antisemitism within the Labour Party were "proxy wars and bullshit" and that "I'm not saying it never ever happens but it is a really dirty, lowdown trick, particularly the antisemitism smears. Many people in the Jewish community are appalled by what they see as the weaponisation of antisemitism for political ends." [34] Marie van der Zyl, the Board of Deputies vice-president, said that Williamson should "show solidarity with those suffering racism within his own party rather than blaming the victims". [35] Williamson described antisemitism as being "utterly repugnant and a scourge on society, which is why I stand in absolute solidarity with anyone who is subjected to antisemitic abuse". [36] He added that his critics' "accusations of anti-Semitism (against him) were positively sinister" and "highly offensive and hurtful" in suggesting "that I was an anti-Semite myself, yet I have fought racism all my adult life". [37]

In April 2018, Williamson referenced Ken Livingstone: "We've got these ridiculous suspensions and expulsions from the party" made "in the most grotesque and unfair way". [38] Supporting Len McCluskey, who had accused some Labour MPs of using the issue of antisemitism in campaigning against Corbyn, he described some of his colleagues as "malcontents" who were "completely out of step with party members" and voters, [39] but that deselection of MPs was "a matter for Labour Party members in each constituency and not a matter for me or indeed Len". [40] In January 2019, during a visit to Derbyshire, Jeremy Corbyn defended Williamson, saying that "Chris Williamson is a very good, very effective Labour MP. He's a very strong anti-racist campaigner. He is not anti-semitic in any way." [41]

In his 2022 memoir, Williamson detailed his belief that the Labour Party handled accusations of antisemitism poorly. He characterised the situation as a fake crisis. He has also stated that he would not cave under pressure from what he describes as "a coordinated smear operation by the Zionist lobby", a group in which Williamson, in the view of one reviewer, appears to include "the Community Security Trust, Board of Deputies of British Jews and Jewish Leadership Council, Campaign Against Antisemitism, BICOM and the Jewish Labour Movement". [42]

Suspension from Labour Party

Formal investigation and suspension

In February 2019, Williamson was criticised for booking a room in the Houses of Parliament for a screening of Witch Hunt , a film about suspended party member Jackie Walker, to be hosted by Jewish Voice for Labour. [43] At the same time, a video was published by The Yorkshire Post of him telling a Momentum meeting in Sheffield that the party was being "demonised as a racist, bigoted party", partly because, in response to criticism, the party had "given too much ground (and) been too apologetic", going on to say "We've done more to address the scourge of anti-Semitism than any other political party." [44] [8] Labour Deputy Leader Tom Watson said that Williamson should have the Labour whip removed for his comments and a group of 38 Labour MPs had written to the party's General Secretary to ask that he be suspended. [45] There was also pressure from London mayor Sadiq Khan, GMB leader Tim Roache, anti-racism charity HOPE not hate, the Jewish Labour Movement and the Board of Deputies of British Jews. [46] [47] [48] Jewish Voice for Labour defended Williamson, as did the "Labour Against the Witchhunt" pressure group and the Sheffield Hallam constituency branch of the Labour Party who voted 40-to-0 in favour of a motion stating Williamson's comments had been taken out of context. [49] [50] Williamson apologised for his comments saying: "I deeply regret, and apologise for, my recent choice of words when speaking about how the Labour Party has responded to the ongoing fight against antisemitism inside of our party. I was trying to stress how much the party has done to tackle anti-Semitism". [51] [52] On 27 February 2019, he was put under formal notice of investigation, [51] [43] and later that day suspended from the party. [8] [47]

Formal warning, resuspension and court challenge

Labour readmitted Williamson on 26 June 2019 after a National Executive Committee panel considered his case and issued him with a formal warning. A party source said: "An NEC panel, advised by an independent barrister, found Chris Williamson had breached the party's rules and gave him a formal sanction. He could face further, more severe, action if he repeats any similar comments or behaviour." [53] It was suggested[ by whom? ] that the decision for readmission was made in order to enable Williamson to enter the Labour MP reselection process then underway. [54] The decision to readmit Williamson was criticised by some Labour parliamentarians and parliamentary staff [55] and by two British Jewish remit organisations. [53] [56] Two days later, he was resuspended after the Labour Party decided to review the decision. [10]

In August 2019, Williamson lodged legal papers with the High Court to challenge Labour's right to resuspend him. [57] [58]

On 3 September 2019 additional allegations of misconduct were made against Williamson, resulting in a second suspension being imposed. Williamson's barrister said "It appears from the timing ... that the purpose of the decision to raise these allegations now, and to impose a second suspension on the claimant, is to seek to ensure that he will remain suspended even if this claim is successful and that he will therefore remain disqualified from selection in the forthcoming general election." [59]

On 10 October 2019, the High Court ruled that reopening the first suspension had been unfair and unlawful, but upheld the legality of the second suspension on 3 September on new allegations, saying it was not inherently unfair and the "new disciplinary case must run its course". [60] [61] Williamson recovered his legal costs. [62]

Reaction to resuspension

In July 2019, the Labour Party in Northern Ireland (LPNI) released a statement opposing the resuspension of Williamson on the grounds that it was "arbitrary and unreasonable" and "the Labour Party does not have any form of particular problem with anti-semitism". [63] In the same month, in a survey of LabourList readers with over 10,000 responses, over two thirds of those expressing a view supported Williamson's readmission. [64] The linguist and activist Noam Chomsky, who is Jewish, told journalist Matt Kennard that there was "nothing even remotely antisemitic" about Williamson's comments in Sheffield, and remarked that the way accusations were being used in cases such as Williamson was "not only a disgrace, but also – to put it simply – an insult to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust." [65] The Campaign for Chris Williamson, established to support him, includes Israeli and British academics, film directors Mike Leigh and Ken Loach, musicians Brian Eno and Roger Waters, journalist John Pilger, actor Miriam Margolyes and comedian Alexei Sayle. [66] [67] [68]

In July 2019, more than one hundred signatories, describing themselves as "all Jews", including Noam Chomsky [69] signed a letter of support for Williamson. [70] The letter was later removed from The Guardian website, after questions were raised about the listed affiliation of some individuals on the list of signatories. Hope not Hate said that the person who used the organisation's name had not been authorised to do so and the Board of Deputies of British Jews said that two of the signatories had promoted 9/11 conspiracy theories. [71] [69]

His speaking events have been controversial. For example, Labour activists criticised his invitation to a trade union meeting in Hull [72] and a talk in Hebden Bridge was cancelled after fears that protests would disrupt a wedding at the same venue. [73] In October 2019, a Methodist church in Downham Market cancelled the booking for a meeting he was due to speak at after "its understanding" of Williamson increased, having not known anything about him at the time of the booking. [74]

An event due to be hosted by Williamson at the Brighthelm Centre in Brighton was cancelled after local MP Peter Kyle contacted the venue to express his concerns over Williamson's alleged antisemitism. A second venue was also cancelled; Williamson said this was after staff were threatened in person and abused in phone calls and on their personal social media accounts. [75] The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council called a protest against Chris Williamson speaking, with a third venue then cancelling the booking after threats of violence were received. [76] Supporters of the MP talked of the importance of protecting freedom of speech. [77] In response, Williamson said: "The grotesque slurs that Peter Kyle and others have levelled against me are truly despicable. I have a long and proud record of fighting racism, which has always involved standing up for every oppressed and marginalised group in society, including Jewish people. When Peter Kyle was still in nappies, I was an active member of the Anti-Nazi League, physically confronting foul racists and anti-Semites in the National Front." [78] In October 2019, the Union of Jewish Students and the Nottingham Jewish Society demanded that the University of Nottingham cancel a planned lecture by Williamson. [79] The demand was supported by the Jewish Labour Movement and the Board of Deputies of British Jews. The university said "While the university is committed to supporting the well-being of all students within our community, we also have a legal duty to ensure that lawful free speech should not be prevented on campus." [80]

2019 general election

Williamson was prevented from standing as the Labour candidate in his Derby North constituency at the 2019 general election as a result of his active suspension. He resigned from the Labour Party and stood instead as an independent candidate. He received 635 votes, losing his deposit and coming bottom of the poll. [5] [81] [82]

After leaving Parliament

Resistance Movement

Following his resignation from the Labour Party in 2019, Williamson initiated the Resistance Movement, also known as Resist, with the stated aim of fighting for change and social justice for all. [83] [84] [85] An international conference, titled The Resist Festival and intending to feature Lowkey, Noam Chomsky, Max Blumenthal and speakers from the French Yellow vests movement, was planned for June 2020 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [86] The Resistance Movement also has a YouTube channel, Resistance TV. [87] Resist was proscribed by the Labour Party in July 2021. [88]

EHRC report

In October 2020, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission report into antisemitism in the Labour Party did not find that Williamson had contributed to the "unlawful harassment related to Jewish ethnicity" in the Labour Party, which Williamson declared as vindication. [89]

Plans for a new party

In November 2020, in response to Jeremy Corbyn's suspension from the Labour Party, Williamson announced that he was in discussions with "key labour movement officials and existing left-wing parties" about the possibility of creating a new socialist party. [62] A press release announced that Williamson had joined the Steering Committee of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) as an observer member. [90]

On 2 August 2022, the Electoral Commission registered a new party called System Change, with Williamson as the leader. [91] [ non-primary source needed ]

Workers Party of Britain

In July 2023, Williamson joined the Workers Party of Britain. [92] The party has defended Williamson over his suspension from the Labour Party for his comments about antisemitism. [93]

At the party's Congress in December 2023, when George Galloway was re-elected party leader. Williamson was among three deputy leaders elected. [14]

PressTV host

Williamson currently hosts the television programme Palestine Declassified on the Iranian government-owned TV channel PressTV. [94]

2023 Israel–Hamas war

On 19 October 2023, Derbyshire Police said they had received "multiple reports" about a post by Williamson on X and were considering whether the post was a hate crime. Williamson's post stated "Israel has forfeited any right to exist". [95] In an interview on 8 November, Williamson said in some respects Israel's actions against Gaza are worse than Nazi Germany. [96] On 18 January 2024, Williamson publicly stated that "Israel must be destroyed." [97]

2024 General election

Williamson stood in the Derby South constituency as the Workers Party candidate at the 2024 general election. [15] He finished third with 5,205 votes (behind Labour's Baggy Shanker, another former council leader (14,503) and Reform UK (8,501) and beating the Conservatives (5,192) into fourth place by 12 votes. [98]

Personal life

Williamson is teetotal and has been a vegan since 1976. [99] He has a son and a daughter, Fionnbharr and Simone, from an early relationship. He is a member of the League Against Cruel Sports [100] [16] and was its National Chair in 1992. [101] He is a republican. [102]

At the time of the 2010 election, he was vice-chair of the Local Government Anti Poverty Forum. [103]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Corbyn</span> British politician (born 1949)

Jeremy Bernard Corbyn is a British politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Islington North since 1983. An independent, Corbyn was a member of the Labour Party from 1965 until his expulsion in 2024, and is a member of the Socialist Campaign Group parliamentary caucus. He served as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party from 2015 to 2020. Corbyn identifies ideologically as a socialist on the political left.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margaret Hodge</span> British politician (born 1944)

Margaret Eve Hodge, Baroness Hodge of Barking,, is a British politician and life peer, who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Barking from 1994 to 2024. A member of the Labour Party, she was previously Leader of Islington London Borough Council from 1982 to 1992. She has held a number of ministerial roles and served as chair of the Public Accounts Committee from 2010 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louise Ellman</span> British Labour politician

Dame Louise Joyce Ellman is a British politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Liverpool Riverside from 1997 to 2019. She is a member of the Labour Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Mann, Baron Mann</span> British independent politician and former Labour MP (born 1960)

John Mann, Baron Mann is a British Labour Party politician who is a Member of the House of Lords. Before being granted a peerage, he was the Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP) for Bassetlaw from the 2001 general election until 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Austin</span> British politician

Ian Christopher Austin, Baron Austin of Dudley is a British politician who sits as a life peer in the House of Lords. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Dudley North from the 2005 general election until the 2019 general election when he stood down. Formerly a member of the Labour Party, he resigned from the party on 22 February 2019 to sit as an independent, and was ennobled in the 2019 Dissolution Honours. He served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government from 2009 to 2010.

The Jewish Labour Movement (JLM), known as Poale Zion (Great Britain) from 1903 to 2004, is one of the oldest socialist societies affiliated to the UK Labour Party. It is a member of the progressive coalition of Avodah/Meretz/Arzenu/Ameinu within the World Zionist Organization. Its sister parties are the Israeli Labor Party (Havodah) and Meretz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luciana Berger</span> British Labour politician

Luciana Clare Berger is a former British politician who served as Member of Parliament for Liverpool Wavertree from 2010 to 2019. A member of the Labour and Co-operative parties, she was a founding member of The Independent Group, later Change UK, before joining the Liberal Democrats. Berger rejoined Labour in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth Smeeth</span> British Labour politician

Ruth Lauren Smeeth, Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Stoke-on-Trent North from 2015 until 2019. Since 2022 she has been a member of the House of Lords.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Campaign Against Antisemitism</span> British non-governmental organisation

Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) is a British non-governmental organisation established in August 2014 by members of the Anglo-Jewish community. It conducts litigation, runs awareness-raising campaigns, organises rallies and petitions, provides education on antisemitism and publishes research.

The Chakrabarti Inquiry was a 2016 investigation into allegations of antisemitism and other forms of racism in the United Kingdom's Labour Party. Chaired by barrister Shami Chakrabarti, the inquiry was launched following comments made by two high-profile Labour figures, Naz Shah and Ken Livingstone, that some asserted were antisemitic in nature; Shah, a Member of parliament, and Livingstone, the former mayor of London, were subsequently suspended from the party pending an investigation. The inquiry presented its findings on 30 June 2016, stating that although antisemitism and other types of racism were not endemic within Labour, there was an "occasionally toxic atmosphere".

Marc Wadsworth is a British black rights campaigner, broadcast and print journalist and BBC filmmaker and radio producer. He founded the Anti-Racist Alliance in 1991 and two years later, also helped set up the justice campaign for murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence. Wadsworth launched an early citizen-journalism news portal, The-Latest.com. In 2008, Wadsworth's reporting triggered the resignation of Mayor of London Boris Johnson's spokesman.

There have been instances of antisemitism within the Labour Party of the United Kingdom (UK) since its establishment. One such example is canards about "Jewish finance" during the Boer War. In the 2000s, controversies arose over comments made by Labour politicians regarding an alleged "Jewish lobby", a comparison by London Labour politician Ken Livingstone of a Jewish journalist to a concentration camp guard, and a 2005 Labour attack on Jewish Conservative Party politician Michael Howard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewish Voice for Labour</span> British political organisation

Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL) is a British organisation formed in 2017 for Jewish members of the Labour Party. Its aims include a commitment "to strengthen the party in its opposition to all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism ... to uphold the right of supporters of justice for Palestinians to engage in solidarity activities", and "to oppose attempts to widen the definition of antisemitism beyond its meaning of hostility towards, or discrimination against, Jews as Jews".

Jacqueline Walker is a British political activist and writer. She has been a teacher and anti-racism trainer. She is the author of a family memoir, Pilgrim State, and the co-writer and performer of a one-woman show, The Lynching. She held the roles of Vice-Chair of South Thanet Constituency Labour Party and Vice-Chair of Momentum before being suspended and ultimately expelled from the party for misconduct.

Peter Rupert William Willsman is a British political activist who was a member of the Labour Party's National Executive Committee and the secretary of the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy.

Labour Against the Witchhunt (LAW) was a group formed in late 2017 to campaign against what it regarded as politically motivated allegations of antisemitism in the UK Labour Party, which it called a "witchhunt". It also campaigned against what it regarded as unfair disciplinary action taken by the Labour Party against its members, particularly in relation to such allegations of antisemitism. The group supported individual members facing disciplinary action and called for changes to the party's disciplinary procedures and code of conduct.

The work of the Labour Party's Governance and Legal Unit in relation to antisemitism, 2014–2019, is a leaked British dossier written by party staff in response to the Equality and Human Rights Commission's investigation into the party's handling of antisemitism complaints and includes reports of other forms of racism. The report reveals emails of senior party management staff, aligned with the right of the party, and alleges obstruction of justice in dealing with cases of antisemitism and other noted cases of racism, and it does not clear the party of accusations of being "institutionally antisemitic". Although the report states that it "thoroughly disproves any suggestion that antisemitism is not a problem in the Party", or that it is all a smear or a witch-hunt, its main assertion is that rampant factionalism within the party had ultimately led to antisemitism and racism allegations not being dealt with properly.

The National Constitutional Committee (NCC) is a senior organ of the UK Labour Party concerned with discipline. It is covered by Clause IX: of the Labour Party Rule Book, the governing document for the Labour Party in the United Kingdom. Representatives on the Committee have included Professor Cecile Wright, Vice-Chair of Momentum. Appointment is a democratic process.

References

  1. ↑ "Williamson, Christopher, (born 16 Sept. 1956), MP (Lab) Derby North, 2010–15 and since 2017". Who's Who 2018. A.C. Black/Bloomsbury/Oxford University Press. 2017. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.251187.[ page needed ]
  2. ↑ "Chris Williamson Joins Workers Party". Workers Party of Britain. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  3. ↑ Carr, Tim; Dale, Iain; Waller, Robert, eds. (2017). The Politicos Guide to the New House of Commons 2017. London: Politicos. p. 423. ISBN   9781785902789. Archived from the original on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  4. ↑ "Chris Williamson". Derby Telegraph . Archived from the original on 8 October 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Chris Williamson MP". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 17 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "Derby North parliamentary constituency – Election 2019". BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 November 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  7. ↑ "DERBY North MP Chris Williamson has resigned from his position as councillor for Normanton after 20 years". This is Derbyshire. 26 March 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 "Labour MP Chris Williamson suspended in anti-Semitism row". BBC News. 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  9. ↑ BBC. "Labour anti-Semitism row: Chris Williamson allowed back into party". 26 June 2019, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48778129 Archived 26 June 2019 at the Wayback Machine
  10. 1 2 Kentish, Benjamin (28 June 2019). "Chris Williamson: Labour MP suspension descends into farce after he has whip removed again two days after being readmitted to party". The Independent . Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  11. ↑ "Court finds Labour Party treated Chris Williamson MP unfairly in reopening case and referring him to the NCC". Bindmans. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  12. ↑ "Labour blocks Corbyn loyalist from standing at general election over antisemitism claims". The Independent. 6 November 2019. Archived from the original on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  13. ↑ Speare-Cole, Rebecca (7 November 2019). "Chris Williamson to stand as independent MP in general election after Labour bans him from party". Evening Standard. London. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  14. 1 2 "New leadership elected at Workers Party congress". Workers Party of Britain. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  15. 1 2 "Chris Williamson: Former Derby MP confirms election bid". BBC News. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Casalicchio, Emilio (26 April 2018). "Chris Williamson: 'It's like all my Christmases have come together – the sort of Labour party I dreamed about'". Politics Home. The House. Archived from the original on 27 April 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  17. ↑ "Chris Williamson's Tory love-in: backbencher formed alliance with Conservatives as Labour leader of Derby council". Red Roar. 24 January 2018. Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  18. ↑ Parveen, Nazia (1 July 2019). "Chris Williamson: 'no place' in Labour for MP embroiled in antisemitism row". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  19. ↑ "Leadership – MPs and MEPs – The Labour Party". 1 January 2011. Archived from the original on 1 January 2011.
  20. ↑ "Ed Miliband shifts Leftwards at conference but Rightwards in the PLP". Left Futures. 9 October 2013. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  21. ↑ Eaton, George (26 January 2015). "The Labour left demand a change of direction – why their intervention matters". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  22. ↑ "Corbyn: Chris Williamson losing Derby North was 'the worst result of that night'". Derby Telegraph . 11 February 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2017.[ permanent dead link ]
  23. ↑ Chakelian, Anoosh (10 May 2017). "Life as Labour's most pro-Jeremy Corbyn candidate in England's most marginal constituency". New Statesman . Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  24. ↑ "Corbyn Must 'Absolutely' Remain Labour Leader Even If He Loses The Election, Says Ally". HuffPost UK . 3 May 2017. Archived from the original on 13 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  25. ↑ "Reshuffle 2: The Maintenance of the Malcontents". New Socialist. 8 July 2017. Archived from the original on 31 October 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  26. ↑ "Jeremy Corbyn appoints 20 MPs to Labour's front bench". Labour Press. Archived from the original on 6 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  27. ↑ Stewart, Heather (11 January 2018). "Chris Williamson quits Labour frontbench after 'double council tax' call". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  28. ↑ Harrison, Tristia (21 August 2018). "Labour can be Jo Cox's party or Chris Williamson's – it cannot be both". Newstatesman.com. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  29. ↑ "Labour's Chris Williamson Praises Vanessa Beeley, Blogger Who Called Jo Cox A 'Warmongering Blairite'". Huffingtonpost.co.uk. 20 August 2018. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  30. ↑ "Labour can be Jo Cox's party or Chris Williamson's – it cannot be both". Newstatesman.com. 21 August 2018. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  31. ↑ Friedman, Gabe (22 August 2018). "UK Labour MP slammed for praising anti-Semitic pro-Assad conspiracist". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 21 February 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  32. ↑ "Labour MP Chris Williamson's 'democracy roadshow' criticised". BBC News. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  33. ↑ Crerar, Pippa (9 July 2018). "Labour MP Chris Williamson launches 'democracy' roadshow". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  34. ↑ Mason, Rowena (28 August 2017). "MPs should have no say over who leads Labour, argues shadow minister". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  35. ↑ Harpin, Lee (29 August 2017). "Anger as 'deplorable' Labour MP dismisses antisemitism allegations as 'smears'". The Jewish Chronicle . Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  36. ↑ Harpin, Lee (29 August 2017). "Anger as 'deplorable' Labour MP dismisses antisemitism allegations as 'smears'". The Jewish Chronicle . Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  37. ↑ Williamson, Chris (9 September 2017). "Agenda setting". Tribune. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  38. ↑ Harpin, Lee. "Board of Deputies condemns Labour MP's comments backing Ken Livingstone". The Jewish Chronicledate=19 March 2018. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  39. ↑ Fisher, Lucy (26 April 2018). "Sir Keir Starmer hits back at Union leader Len McCluskey in antisemitism row". The Times. Archived from the original on 27 April 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2018.(subscription required)
  40. ↑ Foster, Matt (26 April 2018). "Chris Williamson blasts 'malcontent' Labour MPs amid bitter anti-Semitism row". Politics Home. Archived from the original on 28 April 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  41. ↑ Mairs, Nicholas (26 June 2019). "Jeremy Corbyn defends ally Chris Williamson against anti-semitism claims". Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  42. ↑ Goldberg, Marc. "Book Review." Fathom. 16 January 2023.
  43. 1 2 Mason, Rowena (27 February 2019). "Corbyn set for clash with Watson over MP's antisemitism remarks". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  44. ↑ Bates, Elizabeth (26 February 2019). "Chris Williamson: Labour has been too apologetic about anti-Semitism". Yorkshire Post. Archived from the original on 3 March 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  45. ↑ "Labour MP suspended over anti-Semitism remarks". Evening Standard. 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  46. ↑ "Chris Williamson suspended from the Labour Party". LabourList . 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  47. 1 2 Stewart, Heather; Walker, Peter (27 February 2019). "Labour splits exposed as MP is suspended over antisemitism remarks". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  48. ↑ Doherty, Rosa (26 February 2019). "MP Chris Williamson accused of 'trolling Jewish community' by hosting Jackie Walker film in Parliament". Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  49. ↑ Sabbagh, Dan (March 2019). "Local Labour parties drawn into row over antisemitism claims". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  50. ↑ Sabin, Lamiat (27 February 2019). "Labour suspension of Chris Williamson branded 'madness'". Morning Star. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  51. 1 2 "MP to be investigated in anti-Semitism row". BBC News. 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  52. ↑ Mason, Rowena; Walker, Peter; Elgot, Jessica (27 February 2019). "Corbyn set for clash with Watson over MP's antisemitism remarks". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  53. 1 2 BBC. "Labour anti-Semitism row: Chris Williamson allowed back into party". 26 July 2019, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48778129 Archived 26 June 2019 at the Wayback Machine
  54. ↑ Elgot, Jessica. "Chris Williamson back in Labour party after antisemitism remarks". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  55. ↑ Statement on Chris Williamson, 27 June 2019: 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 Mr. 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 Willamson 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.
    Signed
    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 Elliott
    Lord Levy
    Lord Knight of Weymouth
    Lord Harris of Haringey
    Ali McGovern
    James Frith
    Lucy Powell
    Bridget Phillipson
    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 Onwurah
    Baroness Taylor of Bolton
    Lord Willie Bach
    Susan Elan Jones
    Ged Killen
    Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale
    Lord Livermore
    Kevin Barron
    Dan Jarvis
    Jess Phillips
    Martin Whitfield
    Rachel Reeves
    Peter Kyle
    Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top
    Lord Young of Norwood Green
    Ellie Reeves     		Baroness Maggie Jones
    Rushanara Ali
    Debbie Abrahams
    Daniel Zeichner
    Lilian Greenwood
    Graham Jones
    Toby Perkins
    Lord George Robertson
    Baroness Mary Goudie
    Barry Sheerman
    Tonia Antoniazzi
    Ian Lucas
    Lord George Foulkes
    Lord Wood of Anfield
    Cat McKinnell
    Ben Bradshaw
    Lord Haskel
    Lisa Nandy
    Gareth Thomas
    Lord Brooke
    Sharon Hodgson
    Lord Kennedy of Southwark
    from http://www.labouragainstthewitchhunt.org/, also see https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/tom-watson-and-labour-mps-demand-jeremy-corbyn-overturn-chris-williamson-decision_uk_5d14c696e4b0d0a2c0ad0c03
  56. ↑ Mathilde Frot. "Labour MP Chris Williamson let back in with 'formal warning'. Jewish News. 26 June 2019.https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/labour-mp-chris-williamson-let-back-in-with-formal-warning-after-suspension
  57. ↑ Syal, Rajeev (13 August 2019). "Chris Williamson sues Labour over his suspension from party". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  58. ↑ "MP Chris Williamson sues Labour for suspension over anti-Semitism". BBC News. 14 August 2019. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  59. ↑ Hawley, Zena (13 September 2019). "Derby North MP Chris Williamson's legal fight is heard in the High Court". Derby Telegraph. Press Association. Archived from the original on 27 September 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  60. ↑ "MP Chris Williamson loses anti-Semitism suspension appeal". BBC News. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  61. ↑ Mr Justice Pepperall (10 October 2019). "Between: Christopher Williamson M.P. -and- Jennie Formby (sued as a representative of all members of the Labour Party except the Claimant)" (PDF). High Court of Justice. [2019] EWHC 2639 (QB). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  62. 1 2 Hawley, Zena (12 November 2020). "Former Derby North MP Chris Williamson says Labour is dead and plans new socialist party". Derby Telegraph. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  63. ↑ "Statement on Chris Williamson MP, and on the allegation that the Labour Party is anti-semitic". Labour Party in Northern Ireland. Archived from the original on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  64. ↑ Rodgers, Sienna (2 July 2019). "Readmit Williamson and adopt an independent complaints process, say LabourList readers". LabourList. Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  65. ↑ Cowles, Ben (5 July 2019). "Chomsky speaks out against the attacks on Chris Williamson". Morning Star. The People's Press Society. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  66. ↑ Hawley, Zena (13 September 2019). "Derby North MP Chris Williamson's legal fight is heard in the High Court". Archived from the original on 18 September 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  67. ↑ Sugarman, Daniel (14 August 2019). "Chris Williamson MP is to sue Labour in bid to be re-admitted to the party". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  68. ↑ Courea, Eleni (17 August 2019). "Assad defender backs MP Chris Williamson over antisemitism dispute". The Times. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  69. 1 2 Sugarman, Daniel (9 July 2019). "Board of Deputies complains to Guardian about letter from 'prominent' Jews supporting Chris Williamson". Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 31 July 2019.[ dead link ]
  70. ↑ 'Jewish support for Chris Williamson', The Guardian , 8 July 2019. Quote: "We the undersigned, all Jews, are writing in support of Chris Williamson and to register our dismay at the recent letter organised by Tom Watson, and signed by parliamentary Labour party and House of Lords members, calling for his suspension"
  71. ↑ Chris York (9 July 2019). "'Misleading And Inaccurate' Letter Supporting MP Chris Williamson Removed By The Guardian". HuffPost. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  72. ↑ Young, Angus (25 July 2019). "Row erupts as suspended MP Chris Williamson in Hull to speak to trades union activists". Hull Live. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  73. ↑ Greenwood, John (2 August 2019). "Yorkshire town hall meeting featuring MP Chris Williamson cancelled over fears it might affect wedding at the same venue". Yorkshire Post. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  74. ↑ "Labour Party distances itself from Downham Market Chris Williamson meeting". 11 October 2019. Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  75. ↑ Harpin, Lee (7 August 2019). "Brighton Holiday Inn cancels event with suspended Labour MP Chris Williamson after complaints". Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  76. ↑ Weich, Ben (16 August 2019). "After dropping Chris Williamson event, Quakers 'take time to reflect' on hosting speakers accused of antisemitism". Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on 18 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  77. ↑ Weich, Ben (8 August 2019). "Quakers cancel Chris Williamson Brighton event as Jewish groups planned protest". Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  78. ↑ "Chris Williamson event CANCELLED by venue after MP's intervention". The Argus . 24 July 2019. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.[ better source needed ]
  79. ↑ Sugarman, Daniel (4 October 2019). "Jewish students call for the University of Nottingham to cancel Chris Williamson invitation". The Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  80. ↑ Frot, Mathilde (4 October 2019). "University of Nottingham defends invitation to Chris Williamson despite concern". Jewish News. Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  81. ↑ "General election 2019: Dennis Skinner voted out in Bolsover". BBC News. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  82. ↑ "Count Binface and Lord Buckethead among high-profile deposit losers". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  83. ↑ Breen, Suzanne (4 September 2020). "Dissident slant of Palestinian facing charges in MI5 sting 'no surprise' to ex-MP". belfasttelegraph. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  84. ↑ Chris Williamson meets with Socialist Labour Party to discuss working class solidarity, Morning Star
  85. ↑ Ben Bloch. "JVL co-founder Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi expelled from Labour Party". thejc.com. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  86. ↑ "Disgraced former MP Chris Williamson to launch new 'grassroots movement' with inaugural 'resist festival' featuring Lowkey and Noam Chomsky". Campaign Against Antisemitism. 24 April 2020.
  87. ↑ "CAA reveals former Labour member Prof. David Miller is behind Chris Williamson's "Resistance" movement and thinks Jewish interfaith is Israeli-backed "Trojan Horse" effort to "normalise Zionism in the Muslim community"". Campaign Against Antisemitism. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  88. ↑ Chappell, Elliot; Neame, Katie (11 June 2020). "Labour NEC member suspended for speaking at proscribed group's event – LabourList". LabourList. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  89. ↑ "Corbynites react to the EHRC report". The Spectator. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  90. ↑ "Ex-MP Chris Williamson joins TUSC to challenge 'resurgent Blairism'". Socialist Party. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  91. ↑ "View registration – The Electoral Commission". search.electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  92. ↑ "Chris Williamson joins Workers Party". Workers Party of Britain. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  93. ↑ Spereall, David (26 April 2021). "Wakefield local elections 2021: George Galloway's Workers Party of Britain stands in the district for the first time". Wakefield Express . Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  94. ↑ Frazer, Jenni (27 June 2022). "Vehement anti-Zionists designated as 'Iran state-affiliated media' by Twitter". Jewish News . Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  95. ↑ Torr, George (20 October 2023). "Chris Williamson: Former MP's Israel comment prompts hate crime probe". BBC News . Archived from the original on 20 October 2023.
  96. ↑ Greyman-Kennard, Danielle (8 November 2023). "Israel 'worse than Nazis,' Gaza is a concentration camp – former UK MP". The Jerusalem Post . Archived from the original on 8 November 2023.
  97. ↑ "Chris Williamson post on Twitter/X". 18 January 2024.
  98. ↑ Slater, Nigel (5 July 2024). "Derby South General Election results as ex-council leader wins seat". Derbyshire Live. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  99. ↑ "MP Urges Constituents To Try Veganism". Plant Based News. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  100. ↑ Kerry McCarthy MP full transcript (column 898) Archived 1 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine , World Vegan Day, Adjournment Debate, House of Commons, 1 November 2011.
  101. ↑ Benn, Tony (2003). Winstone, Ruth (ed.). Free At Last!: Diaries 1991–2001 (1st ed.). London: Arrow Books. p. 83.
  102. ↑ "Goodbye to the monarchy?". New Internationalist. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  103. ↑ "Chris Williamson – Parliamentary candidates". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Derby North
2010–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Derby North
2017–2019		Succeeded by
Amanda Solloway
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.