Stockport MP Navendu Mishra has insisted he ‘condemns all form of abuse and discrimination’ after coming under renewed pressure to denounce an abusive message in a WhatsApp group including members of his own staff. There was an outcry after the message, in which a woman was compared to Jabba the Hutt by a trade union official, was shared on social media and an unedited version was seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
The row prompted the council’s Labour group to launch an investigation as some of the staff in the group are also elected members - albeit there is no evidence they engaged with the insulting post or added anything untoward. Labour Councillor Andy Sorton - who has represented Brinnington and Central ward since 2012 - called for Mr Mishra to issue a statement, but the MP initially said he was unable to comment on internal affairs.
However, he has now given a statement to the LDRS after Coun Sorton again urged him to speak out about the ‘awful, awful abuse’ at the latest meeting of the full council. Mr Mishra said: "For the avoidance of doubt, I condemn all forms of abuse and discrimination.
