Labour ‘knew of MP’S sexist posts last month’
Corbyn suspends whip from Jared O’mara, but party had drafted press statement in September
SENIOR figures in the Labour Party were made aware of Jared O’mara’s “heinous” comments more than a month ago, The Daily Telegraph can reveal, as Jeremy Corbyn suspended him yesterday. A party spokesman had previously claimed Labour was not told about the sexist, racist and misogynistic comments until this week, but an email has emerged showing the party’s press office drafted a statement addressing the claims in September.
The story containing details of the remarks was not published and the comments were not investigated until this week when Mr O’mara was suspended after days of pressure from both Labour and Conservative MPS.
The revelation casts doubt on both senior Labour figures and Mr O’mara’s account of events. On Sept 20 an email, seen by this newspaper, shows he apologised for the remarks but appeared to defend himself by claiming they were made a long time ago. The email, sent by Labour’s press office, read: “My language when posting on this music site 13 years ago is inappropriate. I regret the choice of words and apologise for any offence caused.”
Since then further comments have come to light, including some form 2009 describing lewd sexual acts.
Yesterday Mr Corbyn withdrew the whip from his MP, meaning he is no longer a member of Labour and cannot vote with them. Earlier in the day, a senior Labour spokesman told journalists that Mr O’mara’s remarks had only come to light on Monday and he claimed they had acted swiftly to deal with the “obviously heinous” comments. Asked why Labour chose not to suspend Mr O’mara sooner, the spokesman said: “The party headquarters was not informed of any of that and if it had been, we would have taken action. When the initial material came to light an investigation was launched into that initial information and there has been further information published today.
“The original information related either to things that were written and said around 13 to 14 years ago, the latest information is more recent and so Mr Corbyn took the decision to ask for his suspension. The investigation was ordered yesterday.”
He said Mr O’mara made a full apology to a meeting of the parliamentary party earlier this week and that Mr Corbyn “strongly condemns” what Mr O’mara has said in the past.
A spokesman for Mr O’mara declined to comment last night.
During Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, Theresa May said: “All of us ... should have due care and attention to the way in which we refer to other people and should show women in public life the respect they deserve.”