A Labour activist who was suspended after posting tweets about the “Jewish blood” of companies including Tesco and Marks and Spencer has been told he could be re-admitted to the party in 2018.

Scott Nelson has previously written on Twitter that the companies had “Jewish connections”.

“Jewish ancestors created those companies,” he tweeted. “These companies have Jewish blood. My ancestors were Irish, so I have Irish blood.

“Pointing out the Jewish ancestors of Tesco & M&S and the human rights abuses of workers abroad doesn’t make me an antisemite.”

Mr Nelson was banned by Labour last December following complaints about the messages. He is also known to have posted a series of foul and abusive messages to other users of the social media site.

When the JC asked Labour in February whether Mr Nelson had been re-admitted, a spokeswoman said he was not a party member and had not been allowed to re-join.

But it has now emerged that the party would consider a new application from the Essex-based supporter in February 2018, or in “exceptional circumstances”.

Political site Guido Fawkes published a copy of a letter sent to Mr Nelson by Labour’s compliance unit.

The letter makes clear that Mr Nelson’s appeal against his membership being revoked was rejected by the national executive committee’s disputes panel in January. General Secretary Iain McNicol had initially rejected his membership and initial appeal.

But the letter concludes: “The NEC will not normally consider a further application from you to re-join until two years has elapsed, unless you have written to us and we consider there are exceptional circumstances.”

Labour’s Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has said party members with antisemitic views should be banned for life.

Mr Nelson’s case follows a series of controversies in the past month about Labour members investigated following concerns over Jew-hatred.

One victim of Mr Nelson’s abuse online told the JC last month that the activist had “considerable support from within the Labour Party from people who are willing to overlook his abuse”.