The Labour leader of a West Midlands Council has resigned just one day after being suspended by the party over allegations she had tweeted a series of antisemitic messages on social media.
Sandwell Council leader Yvonne Davies announced her decision after calling an emergency cabinet meeting on Wednesday afternoon.
During an 18 minute speech sources told the JC that Ms Davies claimed she was being forced out of her post and that she also made a series of allegations about sexism and funding issues within the party when she spoke.
She denied she was antisemitic but said she had made "historic misjudgements."
Labour sources confirmed earlier on Wednesday that she had been suspended as leader the previous day pending the outcome of the investigation.
On Tuesday, the JC has told how the Metropolitan Council leader had backed claims on social media that "Israel's hand" and the “Jewish establishment” were responsible for undermining Jeremy Corbyn.
Her social media also included a link to a petition calling for a parliamentary debate over whether Israel has "improper influence" over British politics.
In another August 2018 tweet she shared an article by the ‘’non-Zionist” writer Robert Cohen headlined ‘The Jewish establishment’s ‘War on Corbyn’ risks bringing real antisemitism to Britain.’
A further post by Ms Davies stated:’’I might be wrong?? But isn’t soros (sic) Jewish? Who remembers the atrocity of the Nazis and is frightened by what he sees as the re-rise of extremism across Europe?...’’
She had also previously posted a message in support for former London Mayor Ken Livingstone over antisemitism claims.
Labour MP John Spellar and Birmingham Hodge Hill MP Liam Byrne, Labour's candidate for West Midlands Mayor, both urged their party to urgently deal with the matter.
In January former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson also called for Ms Davies to stand down saying she lacked the skill and "humility" to guide the authority away from a troubled past.
Mr Watson also slammed Labour's West Midlands regional office, describing it as "an outpost of the London headquarters" which needed "root and branch reform" under Mr Corbyn's successor..
A Labour source confirmed to the JC they were aware of Ms Davies resignation.
