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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/06/labour-nec-drops-chris-williamson-antisemitism-row-mp-as-election-candidate
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| Labour NEC drops antisemitism row MP as election candidate | Labour NEC drops antisemitism row MP as election candidate |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Chris Williamson blocked from standing for party along with Stephen Hepburn and Roger Godsiff | Chris Williamson blocked from standing for party along with Stephen Hepburn and Roger Godsiff |
| Labour has blocked the leftwing campaigner Chris Williamson from standing as a candidate for the party in the general election after he was suspended over accusations he had downplayed antisemitism. | |
| The party’s ruling body also refused to endorse the Jarrow MP, Stephen Hepburn, who was kicked out of the party over allegations of sexual harassment. | |
| Roger Godsiff, the Birmingham Hall Green MP, has also been dropped as a candidate, although he never lost the Labour whip, a source confirmed. | Roger Godsiff, the Birmingham Hall Green MP, has also been dropped as a candidate, although he never lost the Labour whip, a source confirmed. |
| The decisions were made at a meeting of Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) in London. | The decisions were made at a meeting of Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) in London. |
| The committee is also considering the future of the former minister Keith Vaz, who was given an unprecedented six-month ban from parliament for offering to buy cocaine for sex workers and obstructing inquiries by the standards commissioner. | The committee is also considering the future of the former minister Keith Vaz, who was given an unprecedented six-month ban from parliament for offering to buy cocaine for sex workers and obstructing inquiries by the standards commissioner. |
| Williamson was suspended in February after he was recorded on video telling a meeting that Labour’s reaction to antisemitism allegations had led to the party being “demonised”. | Williamson was suspended in February after he was recorded on video telling a meeting that Labour’s reaction to antisemitism allegations had led to the party being “demonised”. |
| He was readmitted to the party and issued with a formal warning after a hearing of an NEC antisemitism panel in June, prompting an outcry from MPs, peers and Jewish groups. | He was readmitted to the party and issued with a formal warning after a hearing of an NEC antisemitism panel in June, prompting an outcry from MPs, peers and Jewish groups. |
| He was suspended again in July. Labour also imposed a separate suspension on 3 September over additional allegations of misconduct. Last month, Williamson lost a high court bid to be reinstated to the party. | |
| Hepburn, 59, allegedly targeted a female party member in her 20s at an Indian restaurant 14 years ago, according to HuffPost. | Hepburn, 59, allegedly targeted a female party member in her 20s at an Indian restaurant 14 years ago, according to HuffPost. |
| The Labour party has referred the case to its ultimate disciplinary body, the national constitutional committee. Hepburn has previously said he “completely refutes” the allegation. | The Labour party has referred the case to its ultimate disciplinary body, the national constitutional committee. Hepburn has previously said he “completely refutes” the allegation. |
| Godsiff faced a reselection battle after Labour members demanded a trigger ballot in his constituency following a row over his support for demonstrators against LGBT lessons in a Birmingham primary school. | Godsiff faced a reselection battle after Labour members demanded a trigger ballot in his constituency following a row over his support for demonstrators against LGBT lessons in a Birmingham primary school. |
| The trio can still stand as independent MPs but they can no longer be Labour candidates. | The trio can still stand as independent MPs but they can no longer be Labour candidates. |
| Godsiff declined to comment. Hepburn and Williamson have been approached for a comment. | Godsiff declined to comment. Hepburn and Williamson have been approached for a comment. |
| Diane Abbott was among NEC members calling for Vaz to stand down. She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme last week: “I think he should consider his position. I think he himself should agree not to be a candidate.” | Diane Abbott was among NEC members calling for Vaz to stand down. She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme last week: “I think he should consider his position. I think he himself should agree not to be a candidate.” |
| Other shadow ministers have told the Guardian that Vaz, himself an NEC member, could become a distraction during what is expected to be a hard-fought election campaign. “Right now, the Tories are seen as the party of sleaze. We don’t need this,” said one. | Other shadow ministers have told the Guardian that Vaz, himself an NEC member, could become a distraction during what is expected to be a hard-fought election campaign. “Right now, the Tories are seen as the party of sleaze. We don’t need this,” said one. |
| However, the NEC has received letters of support from community groups and fellow MPs calling for Vaz to be endorsed as a candidate, informed sources have said. “Keith is like an errant brother. He has not been suspended [by Labour] and therefore it is hard to see on what grounds the party can decide to stop him from standing again,” a senior party source said. | However, the NEC has received letters of support from community groups and fellow MPs calling for Vaz to be endorsed as a candidate, informed sources have said. “Keith is like an errant brother. He has not been suspended [by Labour] and therefore it is hard to see on what grounds the party can decide to stop him from standing again,” a senior party source said. |
| If Vaz stands and is re-elected, he will be unable to take up his seat until his suspension ends. He could then face a recall petition to give voters in Leicester East the chance to oust him. | If Vaz stands and is re-elected, he will be unable to take up his seat until his suspension ends. He could then face a recall petition to give voters in Leicester East the chance to oust him. |
| He could face further action from the committee over comments posted to his personal website that appeared to criticise the inquiry report, the Commons was told. | He could face further action from the committee over comments posted to his personal website that appeared to criticise the inquiry report, the Commons was told. |