[bitontheslide]

An MP has been allowed back into Labour after an investigation into comments he made about the party's handling of anti-Semitism allegations.

Chris Williamson, MP for Derby North, was suspended in February after saying Labour had been "too apologetic" in the face of criticism on the issue.

A Labour source said Mr Williamson was found to have breached party rules and was given a formal sanction.

They said he could face further action if he repeats any similar behaviour.

Mr Williamson said he was pleased to have been allowed back into the party and had been "inundated with overwhelming messages of support from all over the country".

He told BBC Radio Derby: "Anybody who knows me, who knows my record, knows I'm someone who has stood up against bigotry throughout my political life and indeed beforehand."

He added that some of the comments made about his re-admission had been "really quite offensive and incredibly hurtful".

A Labour spokesperson said the party took all complaints "extremely seriously", but they could not comment on individual cases.

Labour is being formally investigated by the Equality and Human Rights Commission over allegations of anti-Semitism.

The watchdog told the party in March it had received a number of complaints and was considering its next steps.

But it confirmed in May it would be launching a probe into whether Labour had "unlawfully discriminated against, harassed or victimised people because they are Jewish".

A Labour source said the suspension was lifted following a hearing of the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) anti-Semitism panel, which was advised by an independent barrister.

But the national chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, Mike Katz, said the decision "stinks" and showed the "moral turpitude" the party was in.

The vice president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Amanda Bowman, said it was "an utter disgrace" to allow Mr Williamson back in, and was "more damning evidence" of anti-Semitism in the party.

Karen Pollock, the chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust was critical of the decision, asking people to "speak up" and "do something".

And Labour MP Margaret Hodge condemned the decision as "unbelievable", and said the party was "turning a blind eye to Jew-hate".

"This shows that the complaints process is a complete sham," she tweeted. "This is not zero tolerance. Every decent Labour Party member must challenge this."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48778129

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Over 100 labour MP's have signed a letter voicing their disgust and asking for the decision to be withdrawn.

Corbyn was supposed to make a public statement on it, but is apparently in hiding