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Jewish Twitter users discuss why they created and spread the hashtag urging Labour members to resign for Chris Williamson

Those behind the campaign, which some people on both sides of the political divide took seriously, had 'no idea it would touch such a raw nerve'

August 1, 2019 15:43
Chris Williamson with Jeremy Corbyn in happier times
2 min read

On Wednesday, a new hashtag began to trend on Twitter in the UK.

“#ResignforChris” urged Labour members who were outraged at the suspension (and likely expulsion) of Chris Williamson, the MP for Derby North, to protest by leaving the party.

Supporters of Mr Williamson angrily denounced the campaign, labelling it a “transparent attempt at psychological manipulation”, and “a Lib Dem scam”. Some Labour members, who had condemned the Derby North MP’s record of Jew baiting, happily endorsed the hashtag, calling for his backers to follow him out the door. The far-left Skwawkbox site even ran an article on the phenomenon, titled “Lazy anti-Labour accounts try to exploit Williamson anger to con Labour members into quitting party”.

But the initiative, which was created and spread by Jews on Twitter, was never intended to be anything other than satirical.