Labour only let Hatton back in after top brass intervened

LABOUR let Derek hatton rejoin after its general secretary discussed the case with Jeremy Corbyn, it emerged last night.

Jennie Formby overruled an official who urged her to block the former Militant leader’s bid to rejoin Labour 34 years after he was expelled.

Leaked emails showed she said she would ‘discuss with LOTO’ – standing for Leader of the Opposition, Mr Corbyn.

A panel of Labour’s national executive Committee (neC) later gave Mr hatton provisional membership. But that was suspended after it emerged he sent a tweet blaming Jews for Israeli policy. The news came as Labour MP Dame Margaret hodge called on Lord Falconer to reject Mr Corbyn’s invitation to take charge of Labour’s disciplinary processes. She claimed the peer was not independent enough for the role.

Miss Formby was alerted to Mr hatton’s application by a senior member of Labour’s complaints department, the Politicshome website reported. he warned her of the potential backlash.

But after being assured that Mr hatton, the hardline ex- deputy leader of Liverpool council expelled in 1985 for belonging to Militant – the Trotskyite group that briefly ran the council before Labour banned it – now had a clean slate, she agreed to ask Mr Corbyn about the case.

Meanwhile, Dame Margaret urged Lord Falconer not to take over Labour discipline after he ‘bombarded’ her with messages urging her to say sorry to Mr Corbyn for accusing him of anti-Semitism. Lord Falconer said: ‘I am shocked she thought I was trying to pressurise her into apologising. I was trying to urge the party to drop their complaint against her.’

MORE weasel words from Jeremy Corbyn and his sinister inner circle on anti-Semitism.

Despite specific denials, veteran Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge has produced compelling evidence that key Corbyn advisers have been protecting activists guilty of bigoted and racist behaviour from disciplinary action.

The party claims to be ‘in listening mode’ over anti-Semitism. In truth – from the very top down – it’s simply turning a deaf ear.