MP quits in row over son drug rap
Politician also accused of abusing journalist
Labour MP Kate Osamor quit the shadow cabinet yesterday amid claims she misled the public over her son’s drugs conviction and abused a journalist.
Osamor stepped down from her shadow secretar y for international development position as the row over her conduct intensified.
She faced criticism when it was revealed she had made her son Ishmael her £50,000-a-year senior communications officer in April 2016. He was found gui lty of drug offences in October and his mum defended keeping him in his post by claiming she had been unaware of his crime at the time. But it was revealed she was aware of his legal situation and wrote to the judge requesting leniency.
The Times reported she verbally abused one of their journalists who asked her for a comment on Friday.
The newspaper stated Osamor said she “should have come down here with a bat and smashed your face in”, told him to “f*** off”, threw a bucket of water at him and called police after accusing the reporter of stalking her.
Ishmael was found with drugs worth £2500 at Bestival music festival in Dorset last year.
He admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine and cannabis on September 18. He was sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work on October 19.
After quitting, Osamor – who represents Edmonton in north London – claimed she wanted “to concentrate on supporting my family through the difficult time we’ve been experiencing”.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “I have accepted Kate Osamor’s resignation and would like to thank her for her work as our shadow secretary of state for international development.”
Michelle Stanistreet, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, said: “Like any other workers, journal ists need to be able to go about their work without fear of threats or assault.
“It’s completely unacceptable to respond to legitimate press queries, however unwelcome they may be, with physical or verbal abuse.”