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| MP Chris Williamson loses anti-Semitism suspension appeal | MP Chris Williamson loses anti-Semitism suspension appeal |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| An MP has lost his High Court bid to be reinstated to the Labour Party after he was suspended in an anti-Semitism row. | |
| Chris Williamson was suspended in February after claiming Labour had "been too apologetic" in its response to criticism of handling allegations. | Chris Williamson was suspended in February after claiming Labour had "been too apologetic" in its response to criticism of handling allegations. |
| He was reinstated in June but was suspended again after a backlash from MPs, peers and Jewish groups. | He was reinstated in June but was suspended again after a backlash from MPs, peers and Jewish groups. |
| However the judge also ruled Labour acted unlawfully when it reopened the disciplinary case against the MP. | However the judge also ruled Labour acted unlawfully when it reopened the disciplinary case against the MP. |
| The Derby North MP remains suspended from the party but he said he would continue to fight to clear his name. | |
| 'No reason for reopening case' | |
| In his ruling, Mr Justice Pepperall said the Labour Party "acted unfairly in that there was no proper reason for reopening the case against Mr Williamson". | In his ruling, Mr Justice Pepperall said the Labour Party "acted unfairly in that there was no proper reason for reopening the case against Mr Williamson". |
| However, he said there was "nothing in the new allegations, the timing of the letter of 3 September or the decision to suspend that entitles me to take the view upon the papers that the Labour party is acting either unfairly or other than in good faith". | However, he said there was "nothing in the new allegations, the timing of the letter of 3 September or the decision to suspend that entitles me to take the view upon the papers that the Labour party is acting either unfairly or other than in good faith". |
| "I therefore refuse relief in respect of Mr Williamson's recent re-suspension. The new disciplinary case must run its course." | |
| Mr Justice Pepperall said: "It is important to stress at the outset of this judgement that this case is not about whether Mr Williamson is, or is not, anti-Semitic or even whether he has, or has not, breached the rules of the Labour Party. | |
| "The issue is whether the party has acted lawfully in its investigation and prosecution of such charges against Mr Williamson." | |
| Outside the court, Mr Williamson called the judgement a "clear victory for justice and due process" after his suspension was deemed unlawful. | |
| He said it was a "damning indictment of our party's internal disciplinary procedures" and that the party's bureaucracy "had been defeated in the courts". | |
| However, he added: "I never expected, nor wanted, to be in a position where I was forced to take legal action against the party to which I have devoted my life." | |
| The party member of nearly 44 years said he believed his suspension was down to "forces hostile to Jeremy Corbyn's leadership". | |
| A Labour Party spokeswoman said: "The court has upheld Chris Williamson's suspension from the party and has said his disciplinary case must run its course." | |
| Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |