LABOUR has today banned shamed Chris Williamson and two other controversial candidates from standingto be MPs again at the upcoming election.
He had the whip withdrawn and was booted out of Labour after saying the party had been “too apologetic” about anti-Semitism.
Corbyn-ally Mr Williamson tried andfailed to get back in the party with a legal challenge.
The others are Stephen Hepburn – who is currently suspended by Labour, and Roger Godsiff, who was triggered for reselection by members in his Birmingham constituents.
Mr Hepburn, who was the MP for Jarrow, was suspended from the party over allegations he sexually harassed a female party member on a night out in 2005.
And Mr Godsiff was triggered by furious local Labour members for backing parents who were opposed to LGBT education in the area.
The decision was taken at a meeting of Labour’s ruling NEC earlier.
A party source said: “The NEC has decided to not endorse Chris Williamson, Stephen Hepburn and Roger Godsiff as candidates in the general election.
Labour candidates will be selected in these three constituencies.
“The Labour party rule book clearly states individuals who are suspended from the party are not eligible to be Labour candidates. The Labour Party is also clear that all Labour Parliamentary candidates must receive endorsement from the NEC in order to be confirmed as Labour candidates.”
As the Tories launch their campaign in full today:
- Tory MP Andrew Bridgen made the Grenfell fire row worse by defending Jacob Rees Mogg and saying he was “clever”
- Jean Claude Juncker told Brits not to fall for Boris’ “propaganda”
- The PM upset Tory moderates by binning a pledge to let MPs vote onwhether to extend the Brexit transition period beyond 2020
- Labour’s Keir Starmer gave a car-crash interview on the partys muddled Brexit policy but the Tories were accused of doctoring a video clip of it
- Mr Corbyn was accused of peddling a flat-out lieafter he claimed a trade deal with the US could cost the NHS 500million a week
- Follow the action with our live blog
Dame Margaret Hodge, a prominent Jewish MP, welcomed the news of Labour dropping Mr Williamson.
She posted on Twitter: Good riddance!! Should never have taken 10 months to get to this point.
A decision on the future is Keith Vaz – who was chucked out of the Commons over offering to buy prostitutes cocaine – has been put off for now.
The trio can still stand as independent MPs, but won’t be allowed to run for Labour.
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