Jeremy Corbyn ally Chris Williamson has brazenly insisted 'there is no evidence against me' after Labour finally bowed to enormous pressure to suspend him during a furious row over anti-Semitism.
The Derby North MP, who faces an official investigation that could see him kicked out of the party, vowed to clear his name after footage in which he said the party was 'too apologetic' sparked widespread fury.
Mr Williamson told his supporters 'change is coming' in a Twitter post which included a bizarre link to a US Civil Rights era song which tells listeners: 'Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on'. He also thanked them for their 'incredible solidarity'.
The MP was forced to issue a grovelling apology on Wednesday after footage emerged of him saying Labour had been 'too apologetic' over anti-Semitism.
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Chris Williamson sent out an unabashed message to his supporters on Twitter on Thursday morning, after Labour bowed to pressure to suspend him
The footage of Mr Williamson speaking to a Momentum rally in Sheffield (pictured right) has provoked fresh outrage over anti-Semitism in Labour's ranks
Some Labour MPs lashed out at comments by Chris Williamson following his suspension. Earlier on Wednesday he has apologised for saying the party had been 'too apologetic' about anti-Semitism
But hours after he was eventually suspended pending the probe, he told the BBC: 'I am going to clear my name within the party procedures.
'I think I've got a very strong case. There is no evidence against me in reality.'
This prompted a backlash, with moderate Essex Labour MP Wes Streeting saying: 'So much for that sincere apology, eh?'
It came as Tom Watson demanded a showdown meeting with Mr Corbyn today as he vowed to 'speak out on anti-Semitism for as long as it takes'.
Labour's deputy leader warned the bullying of Jewish MP Luciana Berger out of the party was the 'worst day of shame' in its 120 year history.
Mr Watson reacted with fury to Mr Corbyn's apparent reluctance to suspend his friend Mr Williamson yesterday.
And In a direct rebuke to Mr Williamson today, Mr Watson warned:'The truth is I don't think we can apologise enough for anti-Semitism in our own ranks.'
Mr Watson has asked to see Mr Corbyn on Monday as the party wrestles to draw a line under the scandal which has blighted the party for more than three years.
Last night, Mr Corbyn suspended Mr Williamson after a revolt by his MPs following hours of fury and frustration.
Labour had initially refused to withdraw the whip from the Derby North MP, despite announcing he would be investigated for a 'pattern of behaviour'.
The official investigation could see Mr Williamson booted out of the party if he is found to have brought it into disrepute.
But after a furious response from the backbenches the decision was reversed and Mr Williamson's suspension was confirmed.
Mr Corbyn is believed to have intervened personally to block his suspension.
Tom Watson (pictured today on GMB) demanded a showdown meeting with Jeremy Corbyn today as he vowed to 'speak out on anti-Semitism for as long as it takes'
Some 38 moderate MPs then pressed for Mr Williamson's removal, putting their demands in a letter. Mr Watson also intervened, condemning the decision to only 'investigate' the remarks.
Asked whether anyone from Mr Corbyn's office had argued against suspension of Mr Williamson, Mr Watson told Today: 'I can't confirm that. I've no idea who said what in Jeremy's office. I honestly don't know that.'
But MP Siobhain McDonagh accused the party leader of doing 'all he could' to defend Mr Williamson before bowing to pressure to suspend him.
She told HuffPostUK: 'No amount of mealy-mouthed apologies could justify his actions at the Sheffield Momentum event last week. How could we apologise too much for acts of anti-Jewish racism in our party?
'Jeremy did all he could to personally defend him but he could not maintain his support in the face of universal demands for his suspension.'
But not everyone has criticised Mr Williamson's remarks, with a hashtag #istandwithchriswilliamson attracting support for him as the drama unfolded.
George Galloway, the former Labour MP, warned Mr Corbyn that he was allowing his 'entire history and reputation' to be 'destroyed', adding: 'If you allow those who want your throat to take @DerbyChrisW (Chris Williamson) by his it really will be the end and that would be a tragedy.'
The release of the video came little more than a week after nine MPs quite Labour, with eight linking up with Tory rebels in the Independent Group.
They included several Jewish Labour politicians including Luciana Berger, who blasted Jeremy Corbyn's response to the avalanche of anti-Semitism they had faced from party members.
Ian Austin, whose adoptive father was Jewish, also quit saying he was 'ashamed' of what Labour had become under Jeremy Corbyn.
McDonnell in furious TV bust-up with Labour MPs over anti-Semitism
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell was involved in a furious bust-up with two senior Labour backbenchers live on television last night after defending the handling of a previous anti-Semitism case.
Jeremy Corbyn's right-hand man was caught up in a fiery exchange with Lisa Nandy and Wes Streeting over the suspension of his former aide, the Bradford MP Naz Shah in 2016.
Mrs Shah, who beat George Galloway for the Bradford West seat at the 2015 election, shared an image on Twitter in August 2014 which called for Israel to be relocated to the US and claimed this would be the 'solution for Israel-Palestine conflict'.
She was subsequently suspended from the party, sacked as a parliamentary private secretary to Mr McDonnell and forced to make a grovelling apology.
John McDonnell told ITV's Peston the way the party dealt with the 2016 case of Naz Shah, his former aide, was 'a shining example' of how to deal with anti-Semitism
But former shadow minister Lisa Nandy (left) said that Mrs Shah was only suspended after pressure from Labour MPs on Jeremy Corbyn's reluctant top team
Mr McDonnell tried to claim on Wednesday night that the way she was dealt with was 'a shining example' of how to deal with anti-Semitism and that he had deal with it himself.
But Wigan MP Ms Nandy, who was shadow energy minister at the time, said this was 'not true'.
In heated exchanges broadcast live online she told the shadow chancellor: 'I was in the shadow cabinet and I was trying to get answers out of the leader's office.
'I was live on telly being asked questions about it - it had been going on at that point for 24 hours and no action had been taken and the official line coming out of the party was 'we will draw a line on it'.
'And that changed under pressure from the shadow cabinet and members of the PLP (Parliamentary Labour Party).'
Mr McDonnell replied: 'No you're wrong, I took that decision.'
The row later spilled onto Twitter when Mr McDonnell's former advisor James Mills pitched in, saying: 'I was with John when this decision was taken - he's telling the truth.
'I like Wes & Lisa, so nothing personal at all, they just don't have all the details on this specific case.'
Ms Nandy replied: 'The fact we're still not telling the truth about this is desperate. A decision was taken not to act.
'After sustained pressure it was reluctantly reversed. It matters because three years later it's still happening.'
Labour's deputy leader warned the bullying of Jewish MP Luciana Berger (pictured last week in Westminster) out of the party was the 'worst day of shame' in its 120 year history.
Timeline of anti-Semitic scandals which have erupted under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership
Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) has been accused of failing to tackle the racism among his supporters
The anti-Semitism scandal has dogged Labour since Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader in 2015.
Here is a timeline of the controversies:
April 2016:
Labour MP Naz Shah is suspended for anti-Semitic posts - including one in which she appeared to endorse calls for Israelis to be deported to the US.
She apologised and was given a formal warning.
Ken Livingstone goes on the radio to defend Ms Shah - but sparks fresh controversy by claiming that Hitler supported Zionism.
He is suspended by Labour but refuses to apologise and has repeated the claim many times.
He eventually quits Labour two years later, saying his suspension has become a distraction.
June 2016:
A two-month inquiry by civil liberties campaigner Shami Chakrabarti finds that Labour is not overrun by anti-Semitism.
But the launch is overshadowed when Jewish Labour MP Ruth Smeeth flees it in tears after being accused by Corbyn supporter Marc Wadsworth of colluding with the press.
Critics accuse the report of being a whitewash and Ms Chakrabarti is widely criticised for accepting a peerage from Jeremy Corbyn shortly afterwards.
October 2016:
The Home Affairs Select Committee says Labour is guilty of incompetence over its handling of anti-Semitism and of creating a safe space for people with 'vile attitudes towards Jewish people'.
March 2018:
It is revealed that Jeremy Corbyn defended an artist who painted an anti-Semitic mural and said the offensive art should be removed.
He apologises saying he did not properly look at the picture before he made the post.
Jewish leaders take the unprecedented step of holding a demonstration outside Parliament protesting Mr Corbyn's failure to tackle anti-Semitism.
Several Labour MPs address the crowds.
April 2018:
Marc Wadsworth is expelled from Labour after being accused of anti-Semitism.
Meanwhile, Labour Jewish MPs tell of the anti-Semitic abuse they have suffered in a powerful parliamentary debate - and round on their leader for failing to tackle it.
July 2018:
The Labour leadership sparks fresh anger by failing to fully adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism
Peter Willsman, a strong ally of Jeremy Corbyn, is secretly taped ranting that Jewish 'Trump fanatics' invented the anti-Semitism storm engulfing Labour.
In an angry diatribe at a meeting of Labour's ruling executive committee, he said he was 'amazed' there was evidence party members hated Jews.
He claimed 'some of these people in the Jewish community support Trump – they are Trump fanatics' before shouting: 'So I am not going to be lectured to by Trump fanatics making up duff information without any evidence at all.'
August 2018:
Jeremy Corbyn issues a video insisting he is committed to tackling the racism - but it is panned by Jewish leaders.
Corbynistas mount a social media campaign to get deputy Labour leader Tom Watson to quit after he criticises the party's handling of anti-Semitism.
The Daily Mail exclusively publishes photos of Jeremy Corbyn holding a wreath at a ceremony where a terrorist linked to the Munich massacre was honoured.
The Labour leader insists he was there to honour others killed - but faces fresh calls to quit over the scandal.
February 2019:
Nine MPs including Luciana Berger, Joan Ryan and Ian Austin are among those who quit the Labour Party with broadsides at inaction over anti-Semitism under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.
Berger, the Jewish Liverpool Wavertree MP, had faced a barrage of attacks from members of her own local party as well as wider abuse, said Labour had become 'institutionally anti-Semitic'.
Enfield MP Joan Ryan was attacked because she was the chairwoman of Labour friends of Israel. And Dudley's Ian Austen, who adoptive father was Jewish, said he had become 'ashamed' of what the party had become under Mr Corbyn's leadership.
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Main photo article Jeremy Corbyn ally Chris Williamson has brazenly insisted ‘there is no evidence against me’ after Labour finally bowed to enormous pressure to suspend him during a furious row over anti-Semitism.
The Derby North MP, who faces an official investigation that could see him kicked out of...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
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