John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, has claimed Labour’s decision to withdraw support from two parliamentary candidates is an example of Keir Starmer placing “country over party interests”.
He said: “We said that we would set the toughest standards for our candidates and our MPs, it was part of the change that Keir Starmer committed to making to resurrect and rebuilt standards in public life.
“What we’ve seen is evidence of our candidates saying unacceptable, wrong things, they have been investigated, and in the case of Rochdale and Azhar Ali, as soon as new information came to light, Keir Starmer took a very swift decision that he didn’t meet the standards that the public have a right to expect.
“And so we withdrew support for him at a cost to our own party here, because we leave the people of Rochdale without a Labour candidate to vote for.”
Asked why others who attended the same meeting – such as Labour member Munsif Dad – have not been suspended, Mr Healey says he doesn’t know what he was at the meeting for.
“Why Graham Jones has been suspended is not just for being at the meeting, but what’s come to light are unacceptable comments that he’s made that were plain wrong.”
Pressed on the potential for further cases, the Labour frontbencher said the “party will act” if new information comes to light.
“Keir Starmer will act swiftly and decisively,” he added.
Labour will ‘fully investigate’ allegations of ‘improper conduct’
John Healey is now asked about allegations that a former member of the Labour Party was among those who gathered outside Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood’s home in protest on Monday night.
The person in question is understood to be an ex-Labour councillor.
Mr Healey said: “You’re telling me something that is completely new to me.
“What I would say is if there are allegations of improper conduct of Labour members, they will be fully investigated.”
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