Hatton suspended from Labour just days after being readmitted

Firebrand former deputy leader of Liverpool City Council Derek Hatton has been suspended from Labour just days after being readmitted to the party.

The move comes after the outspoken left-winger announced he had been accepted back into the party fold earlier this week after being expelled from Labour 34 years ago.

The suspension is believed to have followed concerns being raised about Mr Hatton’s Twitter history.

A Labour source said: “Once this was brought to our atten- 0 Derek Hatton was readmitted days ago

tion, he was suspended pending the NEC’S decision.”

Shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner told the Commons yesterday he had written to the Labour Party’s gen- eral secretary and “lodged a formal complaint” against Mr Hatton.

Labour MP Neil Coyle had raised the fact Mr Hatton had tweeted “what seemed to imply that every Jew, wherever they live in the world, is responsible for the actions of the Israeli government”, adding: “Does he share my view that Derek Hatton has no part to play in our Labour Party?”

A Labour party spokesman said: “We do not comment on individual members.”

Meanwhile, the former Scottish MP George Galloway said he would seek to rejoin Labour, claiming allegations of anti-semitism levelled by departing MPS were “all a lie”.