A trio of former MPs have been axed as
Labour candidates for the general election.
Chris Williamson, who was accused of anti-Semitism, and Stephen Hepburn, who was facing sexual harassment allegations, had their suspensions upheld by the party’s ruling National Executive Committee at a meeting on Wednesday.
Another former MP, Roger Godsiff, was also barred from standing despite not being suspended, one source said.
Ex Birmingham Hall Green MP Godsiff has been ‘triggered’ for reselection by his local party after he gave his backing to demonstrators outside a Birmingham primary school, who oppose lessons for young children on same-sex relationships.
The fate of veteran former minister Keith Vaz remains unclear as his case was not on the formal agenda for the NEC meeting.
Williamson had come under heavy criticism for downplaying anti-Semitism within the party, after saying Labour had been “too apologetic” in response to criticism.
The former Derby North MP was first suspended in February but was readmitted with a formal warning following a hearing of an NEC anti-Semitism panel in June. But the resulting outcry led to him being suspended again.
Ex-MP for Jarrow, Stephen Hepburn, was also barred by the NEC following his own suspension for alleged sexual harassment. The ruling body has yet to rule on other former MPs who had been ‘triggered’ for reselection by their local parties. Emma Lewell-Buck and Kate Osamor want to become Labour candidates again.
The NEC has yet to decide on the case of Keith Vaz, whose candidacy hangs in the balance following a damning parliamentary standards investigation found he had offered to buy cocaine for sex workers.
Vaz, who has been MP for the past 32 years, was last week given a six-month ban from parliament after an investigation found his testimony was “not believable and, indeed, ludicrous”.
Letters of support for him were submitted to the NEC, but shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said last week he should consider his position and step down.
The former minister and chair of the home affairs select committee was investigated by parliamentary standards watchdogs over a 2016 encounter he had with sex workers. The Daily Mirror reported that he had pretended to be a washing machine salesman called Jim.Related... John Bercow Calls
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