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JEWISH councillor Jo Bird has had her Labour Party membership reinstated after an investigation cleared her of any wrongdoing.
Ms Bird, who represents Bromborough in Merseyside, was suspended after a recording emerged of her calling for the halting of Labour’s disciplinary hearings into anti-semitism cases until “due process has been established.”
She added, jokingly: “It’s what I call a Jew process.”
Ms Bird subsequently received streams of abuse on social media, including death threats.
At a speech at Wirral Council a fortnight ago, she read out messages sent to her in which she was called a “nazi,” “manipulative,” and was told: “It’s time for Jews to leave the country.”
A Labour source told the Star that Ms Bird’s suspension has been lifted but that she was formally warned over her remarks.
Commenting on her suspension Ms Bird said she had a “self-deprecating sense of humour” and clarified: “I am sorry for any offence caused by my play on words.”
Jewish Socialists’ Group representative David Rosenberg told the Star: “We are pleased that Jo Bird has been reinstated.
“As far as we can see her pun – ‘Jew process’ – was actually a positive statement about Jewish values of social justice.
“We are worried about rising numbers of suspensions.
“The Chakrabarti report promoted natural justice and prioritised using education over heavy-handed disciplinary measure in investigating and dealing with complaints.
“We support those aims.”
A Labour spokesperson said: “All complaints about anti-semitism are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken.”