[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.

He continued his education at Leicester Polytechnic (now De Montfort University), where he obtained a professional social work qualification (a CQSW) in 1985.

[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.

[5] In 2014, Williamson voted to support the Cameron coalition's 2011 military intervention in Libya and the British action against ISIS in Iraq.

"[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.

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".

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.

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.

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".

"[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".

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] 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.

[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.

[8][47] Labour readmitted Williamson on 26 June 2019 after a National Executive Committee panel considered his case and issued him with a formal warning.

"[53] A Guardian report relying on anonymous interviews with sources close to the NEC suggested that the decision for readmission was made in order to enable Williamson to enter the Labour MP reselection process then underway.

"[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.

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.

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.

[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.

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.

"[80] 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.

[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.

[62] A press release announced that Williamson had joined the Steering Committee of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) as an observer member.

[103] Tom WatsonHolly LynchStella CreasyAnna TurleyRosie DuffieldLouise EllmanRuth SmeethJenny ChapmanRoberta Blackman-WoodsStephen DoughtyKarin SmythBaroness ThorntonLord McNicolBaroness Morgan of HuytonLord TurnbergGloria De PieroBaroness Royall of BlaisdonYvette CooperBaroness Massey of DarwenBaroness KingsmillLord SoleyMadeleine Moon Kate GreenRuth CadburyOwen SmithSeema MalhotraLiz KendallChris MathesonMargaret HodgeStephen KinnockJeff SmithChris BryantWes StreetingJulie ElliottLord LevyLord Knight of WeymouthLord Harris of HaringeyAli McGovernJames FrithLucy PowellBridget PhillipsonPat McFaddenBaroness McIntosh of HudnallLord TriesmanLord DubsIan Murray Darren JonesAlex SobelKaren BuckNeil CoyleLord MandelsonAnna McMorrinChi OnwurahBaroness Taylor of BoltonLord Willie BachSusan Elan JonesGed KillenBaroness Ramsay of CartvaleLord LivermoreKevin BarronDan JarvisJess PhillipsMartin WhitfieldRachel ReevesPeter KyleBaroness Armstrong of Hill TopLord Young of Norwood GreenEllie Reeves Baroness Maggie JonesRushanara AliDebbie AbrahamsDaniel ZeichnerLilian GreenwoodGraham JonesToby PerkinsLord George RobertsonBaroness Mary GoudieBarry SheermanTonia AntoniazziIan LucasLord George FoulkesLord Wood of AnfieldCat McKinnellBen BradshawLord HaskelLisa NandyGareth ThomasLord BrookeSharon HodgsonLord 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