A Whatsapp group in which a woman was mocked as looking like ‘Jabba the Hutt’ included Labour councillors and employees of Stockport MP Nav Mishra, it has emerged. A leaked screenshot shows Kev Dolan, an official with public service union Unison, cruelly comparing the constituent to the grotesque villain from the Star Wars movies.
The comment, which reads ‘not a good picture feeding her face reminds me of Jabba the Hut (sic)’, was made about a Stockport Labour party member. We are not naming the individual but an unedited image has been seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Mr Dolan is a supporter of Mr Mishra and was on the panel that selected him as Labour’s candidate for the Stockport constituency at the 2019 election.
While they do not engage with the comment or contribute anything untoward, the screengrab appears to show the WhatsApp group includes three Stockport councillors. These are Coun Janet Mobbs and Coun Charlie Stewart - both caseworkers for Mr Mishra - and Coun Sue Glithero. The name of Chris Gleeson - another caseworker based at Mr Mishra’s office is also shown - although he also does not appear to respond or add anything offensive.
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The Labour Party rulebook states that a ‘starting point for all our actions as members of a party and a movement is to treat all people with dignity and respect. This applies to all our dealings with people, offline and online.’ The leaked image - a redacted version of which has also been shared on social media - has prompted Stockport council’s Labour group to launch an investigation.
Councillor Kate Butler told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “ This has recently been brought to my attention and, as the Labour group's chief whip, I can confirm that an investigation is now underway. Beyond that I am not able to discuss internal party matters. However, I do understand the public interest and with others will work toward a swift and satisfactory resolution."
It comes after Labour Councillor Andy Sorton - who has represented Brinnington and Central ward since 2012 - called for both the council and Mr Mishra to issue statements and for the MP to hold an investigation. “I have seen what everybody else has seen. It’s clearly a woman and I understand this woman is disabled,” he told the LDRS.
“It’s unacceptable behaviour. The public has seen this and they are asking questions of us. [They are asking] what happens when you go to the MP’s office because there are case workers identified in that and potentially three councillors identified in that. The members of the public that have contacted me are extremely worried about how they would be spoken about.”
Coun Sorton said it was vital that Mr Mishra acted to restore public confidence in his office. “They need to have confidence in these public figures and the only way they are going to get that is from a statement from the MP and a completely independent investigation so it’s transparent,” he added.
“If I’m going in there - or my sister, or my mum or my partner or any woman is going in there - they need to come out with confidence they are not being laughed at and mocked by people in the WhatsApp group.”
Becky Crawford, a Labour party member and councillor for Central and Brinnington between 2017 and 2022, has also called for an investigation. She said: “I am so disappointed to see these allegations regarding employees of the MP and sitting councillors. This is not what Labour is about.
“If this is how Nav’s employees reference residents in their WhatsApp groups, how can anyone feel confident going to his office or approaching these councillors for help? Most of the Labour party members I know and worked with are good people who would be horrified by this.
“I hope those involved are investigated and dealt with by the MP and the Labour Party.” Mr Mishra said he was unable to comment on internal affairs.
Labour North West and Councillor Stewart said they did not wish to comment at this stage. Councillors Mobbs and Glithero did not respond to a request for comment.
Mr Dolan and Unison North West did not respond to requests for comment. A request for comment was sent to Mr Gleeson via Mr Mishra’s press office but none had been received by deadline.
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