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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 in the general election after he was suspended over accusations he had downplayed antisemitism in the party. | |
| The MP for Derby North was one of three former Labour MPs who were told they will not stand as candidates following a day-long meeting of the party’s ruling body. | The MP for Derby North was one of three former Labour MPs who were told they will not stand as candidates following a day-long meeting of the party’s ruling body. |
| A decision has not yet been made by the national executive committee (NEC) on 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. | A decision has not yet been made by the national executive committee (NEC) on 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. |
| He is one of six prospective candidates who will face questions this week from an NEC endorsement panel, consisting of three NEC members, before the party decides whether they can stand. | He is one of six prospective candidates who will face questions this week from an NEC endorsement panel, consisting of three NEC members, before the party decides whether they can stand. |
| It comes amid mounting criticism of the party over its decision to allow Vaz to keep the party’s whip and membership, despite a damning verdict from the Labour-led standards committee. | It comes amid mounting criticism of the party over its decision to allow Vaz to keep the party’s whip and membership, despite a damning verdict from the Labour-led standards committee. |
| Martin Bell, the anti-sleaze campaigner who unseated the scandal-hit Tory MP Neil Hamilton in Tatton in 1997, told the Guardian he would endorse a local independent candidate if Labour chooses to allow Vaz to run. | |
| “I saw the behaviour of Vaz for myself during a standards and privileges committee inquiry when I was an MP. I think it would be important for someone to take a stand against him if Labour let him run as their candidate,” he said. | “I saw the behaviour of Vaz for myself during a standards and privileges committee inquiry when I was an MP. I think it would be important for someone to take a stand against him if Labour let him run as their candidate,” he said. |
| Bell, a former war reporter known for his white suit, stood against Hamilton after the Guardian accused the Tory MP of taking “cash for questions” from Mohamed al-Fayed, the owner of Harrods. | Bell, a former war reporter known for his white suit, stood against Hamilton after the Guardian accused the Tory MP of taking “cash for questions” from Mohamed al-Fayed, the owner of Harrods. |
| Wednesday’s meeting of the NEC was made up of representatives of unions, MPs and party members. It had endorsed about 600 candidates out of 632 by the early evening. | Wednesday’s meeting of the NEC was made up of representatives of unions, MPs and party members. It had endorsed about 600 candidates out of 632 by the early evening. |
| Williamson was suspended in February after he was recorded on video telling a meeting that Labour had been “too apologetic” over antisemitism allegations that had led to the party being “demonised”. | Williamson was suspended in February after he was recorded on video telling a meeting that Labour had been “too apologetic” over antisemitism allegations that 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 suspended again in July. | 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. | 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. |
| The Jarrow MP, Stephen Hepburn, was also kicked off the party’s candidates’ list over allegations of sexual harassment. Hepburn, 59, allegedly targeted a female party member in her 20s at an Indian restaurant 14 years ago, according to HuffPost. | The Jarrow MP, Stephen Hepburn, was also kicked off the party’s candidates’ list over allegations of sexual harassment. 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. |
| 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. |
| Godsiff faced a re-selection battle after Labour members demanded a trigger ballot in his constituency following a row over his support for demonstrators against LGBT equality lessons in a Birmingham primary school. | |
| Godsiff declined to comment. | Godsiff declined to comment. |
| Hepburn and Williamson have been approached for a 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. |