A Labour MP who was removed from the shadow cabinet for giving an interview on a picket line without permission has put out a searing statement following his deselection as a Labour election candidate. Sam Tarry will not contest the Ilford South seat at the next general election, and has hit out at the "political circus" of his deselection and cast doubt over the result.
Mr Tarry, an ally of Jeremy Corbyn, clashed with current Labour leader Keir Starmer over whether ministers should publicly appear on picket lines. After giving an interview on the RMT's picket line in London, against the party leader's advice, Mr Tarry was removed from the frontbench for breaching collective responsibility rules.
He was voted out at a meeting on Monday night in favour of Jas Athwal, the leader of Redbridge Council, by a margin of 499 to 361. Mr Athwal said it was a "real honour" to be selected and will contest the seat at the next General Election.
