Labour has suspended its National Executive Committee member
Pete Willsman after a tape emerged of him saying
antisemitism has been “whipped up” by the
Israeli embassy working within the party.
A spokesperson for Labour said he had been suspended “pending investigation”.
The decision comes after Willsman was caught on tape in an “anti-Semitic rant”.
It means he will not be able to attend NEC meetings or perform any other functions as a member of the committee.
Deputy leader Tom Watson had previously called for Willsman’s “immediate” suspension, tweeting: “The fact that a member of Labour’s governing body feels he can continue to make such offensive remarks after being warned for similar outbursts previously shows how serious the problem of anti-Semitism is in our party.
“The general secretary must make good on the promise that was made following Mr Willsman’s previous outburst that he would face disciplinary action if he engaged in similar conduct again.”