‘Conspiracy theory’ Labour candidate faces deselection

A LABOUR parliamentary candidate who last year challenged the evidence for the murder of Jo Cox and the terror attacks at Westminster and Manchester is likely to be deselected, it has emerged.

A staunch supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, Mandy Richards was selected to fight the marginal seat of Worcester, but then it emerged she had written on Twitter: “Glad someone asking right questions about #terror coverage. #Jocox incident conveniently bereft of evidence too.” With the message she posted a video by a conspiracy theorist suggesting the Westminster attack coverage had been edited and faked.

She also questioned coverage of the Manchester Arena attack: “Can news agencies, police or anyone else for that matter explain why still no images/ footage of physical damage at #Manchesterarena?” Mike Foster, the former Labour MP for Worcester, posted on Twitter: “Will someone from @UK- Labour please put a stop to this. Having “no comment” from u is difficult to defend on local radio to Labour members in Worcester and most importantly, to the voters in Worcester I had the privilege to serve.”

Concerns were first raised after it emerged Ms Richards was under 14 extended civil restraint orders by the High Court. She is banned from bringing court actions without permission after claims against MI5, MI6, the Met Police, the Army, Thames Water, her gas, electricity and broadband suppliers, Royal Mail, Hackney council, her GP and the freeholder of her flat.

John Woodcock MP said of her Jo Cox tweet: “We would be outraged if any other party picked a candidate who said this about the murder of our friend.”

Ms Richards apologised on Facebook for “any upset” but added: “I can assure you the cases brought were all above board.” The Labour Party declined to comment any further.