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Labour has suspended MP Chris Williamson after he accused the party of being "too apologetic" over accusations of antisemitism.

He made the comment to Momentum activists in a video obtained by the Yorkshire Post, in which the Derby North MP claimed Labour had long "stood up to racism" but is "now being demonised as a racist, bigoted party".

"I think our party's response has been partly responsible for that because in my opinion... we've backed off too much, we've given too much ground, we've been too apologetic," the ally of Jeremy Corbyn said.

"We've actually done more to address the scourge of antisemitism than any other political party."

He also recounted singing Celebration in response to the resignations of a number of Labour MPs last week, many of whom cited antisemitism as a reason for their departure.

Eight former Labour MPs, including Luciana Berger and Joan Ryan, quit the party to form The Independent Group.

Ms Berger said her former party had become "instiutionally antisemitic".

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Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson led calls for Mr Williamson's suspension, saying his "unacceptable" comments had brought the party into "disrepute".

Later, Mr Williamson said: "I deeply regret, and apologise for, my recent choice of words...

"I was trying to stress how much the party has done to tackle antisemitism."

He continued: "I am therefore sorry for how I chose to express myself on this issue within our party.

"This is a fight that I want to be an ally in."

Speaking later to Sky News, he said there was a "process" within the party and he would "work to clear my name".

He declined to add anything to his original statement or say whether he thought he would become a Labour MP again.

Jewish Labour MP Margaret Hodge said she was "glad the leadership has taken swift action", commenting: "This is what zero tolerance looks like."