A GRASSROOTS Labour group has cancelled a speech from MP Chris Williamson, who has this week been suspended from the party over remarks about anti-Semitism.

Mr Williamson was due to give a talk at the Freedom Church, in Walmersley Road, next Friday evening.

The talk, entitled "Why we need a Corbyn Labour government", had been organised by Bury Momentum ­— a hard-left political movement closely associated with and supportive of the Labour Party and its leader Jeremy Corbyn.

However the group has now confirmed that the event has been cancelled.

A statement published by on the Eventbrite page for the talk said: "Please note that this meeting due to be held in Bury on Friday 8 March has been cancelled and will not now take place. Our apologies for any inconvenience caused. In solidarity, Bury Momentum."

In the wake of the incident Bury Momentum also appears to have deleted its Facebook page, however, it remains active on Twitter.

The organisation has been approached for comment on the status of their Facebook page.

Earlier this week Mr Williamson, the MP for Derby North and close ally of Mr Corbyn, was suspended by Labour over comments about the party's handling of the anti-Semitism crisis.

In footage from a Sheffield Momentum meeting, published by the Yorkshire Post, Mr Williamson said Labour had "given too much ground" following criticism over the issue.

He has since said he "deeply regrets" the comments and issued an apologetic statement on Twitter saying that he never intended to "minimise the cancerous and pernicious nature of anti-Semitism".

The issue comes just a week after nine MPs left the Labour Party, citing the anti-Semitism crisis as a factor.

Following the announcement of the speech's cancellation Bury South MP, Ivan Lewis, has hit out at Bury Momentum over their invitation of Mr Williamson.

In a Tweet Mr Lewis said: "The fact he was invited at all by #bury Momentum members shows their total contempt for the feelings and legitimate concerns of the Jewish community."

Mr Lewis resigned from the Labour Party at the end of last year, having been suspended by Labour over claims of sexual harassment, launching a scathing attack on Jeremy Corbyn.

In his excoriating resignation letter Mr Lewis hit out at the Labour leader over his handling of the anti-Semitism crisis engulfing the party, as well as his position on Israel and Brexit.

Mr Williamson has been approached for comment.