Jeremy Corbyn defends 'Jew-baiter' MP Chris Williamson, saying he is 'not antisemitic'

But speaking to local paper Derbyshire Live, Mr Corbyn said: “Chris Williamson is a very good, very effective Labour MP. He’s a very strong anti-racist campaigner. He is not antisemitic in any way.”

Mr Williamson has also defended former Labour member Scott Nelson, who was expelled from the party after tweeting about “Jewish companies” with “Jewish blood…exploiting workers abroad”.

After initially denying that Mr Nelson had made such comments, describing them as “smears”, he then said Mr Nelson “repeatedly apologised for those comments. He is opposed to all forms of racism and bigotry… please give him a chance.”

In November 2017 Mr Williamson shared on social media a notorious faked Nelson Mandela quote that compared Israel to apartheid-era South Africa.