Labour expected to drop two general election candidates
The Labour Party is expected to drop two of its general election candidates in Gosport and Barking following a crunch meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) today.
An email from the office of the general secretary, seen by Sky News, says the party is “not recommending candidates for endorsement” in Gosport or Barking as there are “outstanding NEC processes yet to conclude”.
Labour had selected Edward Batterbury for Gosport and Darren Rodwell, the leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, for the parliamentary seat of Barking.
It comes after Mr Rodwell issued a statement on X on Monday, in which he said allegations about his behaviour had been made to Labour’s complaints unit.
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“I utterly refute what is being said,” he wrote.
“I have not engaged in sexual harassment of any kind. I did not indulge in ‘inappropriate touching’ of an attendee at an event last month.
“I have no recollection of meeting someone for a coffee to discuss development in Barking – there is no evidence of any such meeting in my diary.
“Likewise, I have no recollection of asking personal questions.”
He continued: “It’s not clear what drinks I was ordering, but for the record, I do not drink alcohol.
“It is inconceivable I would have touched someone’s hands, legs and body inappropriately.
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“I can only imagine I am a victim of some sort of attempt to prevent me being selected as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Barking.
“I am prepared fully to address this complaint, I am in the process of consulting lawyers and I would ask it were expedited so my candidature can proceed.”
Sky News has approached the Labour Party, Mr Batterbury and Mr Rodwell for comment.
Labour’s NEC met this afternoon to approve its list of candidates going into the general election – including Diane Abbott, who has now been confirmed as the party’s candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.
It follows the controversy surrounding Ms Abbott, who initially believed she had been barred from standing for Labour following her suspension last year for suggesting that Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience prejudice rather than racism.
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‘I spoke to Diane two or three months ago’
Ms Abbott issued a swift apology following the comments, but was stripped of the Labour Party whip, forcing her to sit as an independent MP in the Commons.
With the deadline fast approaching for Labour to finalise its candidates, there were mounting questions over Ms Abbott’s future and whether she would be able to run for the party in Hackney North.
The Times then reported last week she had had the whip restored but would be barred from standing in the seat she has held for nearly 40 years.
A backlash against the decision – and the manner in which it was briefed to the media – followed, with Angela Rayner telling Sky News she did not see “any reason” why Ms Abbott could not run for the party on 4 July.
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Sir Keir then declared that Ms Abbott was in fact “free” to run for the party while he praised her reputation as “trailblazer” and the UK’s first female black MP.
Ms Abbott has been critical of the way her case was handled and was one of a number of party figures to accuse the Labour leader of carrying out a “cull” of left-wing former MPs and candidates, after Faiza Shaheen was also blocked in Chingford and Woodford Green and Lloyd Russell-Moyle, the former MP for Brighton Kemptown, was suspended after a “serious complaint” was made against him.
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In a social media statement, Mr Russell-Moyle said he believed the “false allegation” was a “vexatious and politically motivated complaint” about his behaviour eight years ago that was “designed to disrupt the election”.
On Tuesday morning Ms Shaheen said she had resigned from Labour, saying she believed her “removal shows that the desires of the local members and my community mean nothing to the people at the top of the party”.
Sir Keir has denied blocking those on the left, saying he simply wants the “highest quality candidates” in the election.
The candidates standing in Gosport are:
Labour – TBC
Conservatives – Caroline Dinenage
Reform UK – Matt Mulliss
Green Party – Tony Sudworth
The candidates standing in Barking are:
Green Party – Simon Ronald Anthony
Liberal Democrats – Charley Hasted
Reform UK – Clive Peacock
Conservatives – Julie Redmond
Workers Party of Britain – Hamid Shah
Labour – TBC
The Electoral Commission deadline to become a candidate for the general election is at 4pm on Friday.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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