MP O’Mara returns to Labour after warning over offensive remarks
SHEFFIELD MP Jared O’Mara is to return to the Labour Party following his suspension for making a series of homophobic, racist and misogynistic online remarks.
A disputes panel hearing held by the party ruled that Mr O’Mara, who was suspended in October, should be issued with a formal warning and attend mandatory training rather than face any harsher punishment.
The Yorkshire Post understands that as a result his suspension will now be lifted and he will be reinstated to the Parliamentary Labour Party.
Mr O’Mara, who took the Sheffield Hallam seat of former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in June, has yet to make his maiden speech in Parliament. It is understood that his case did not meet the criteria for a hearing of Labour’s National Constitutional Committee and that he was investigated for a breach of party membership rules.
The 36-year-old MP, who is paid more than £74,000 a year, made an unreserved apology in October for the comments he made online in his early 20s, blaming the ‘lad culture’ he grew up with where the language was considered normal.
Penny Baker, the deputy leader of the Sheffield Liberal Democrats, criticised the return of an MP “who has offended countless people with his misogynistic and homophobic comments”. Mr O’Mara has yet to comment.