Mandy Richards Axed As Labour Candidate After Questioning Terror Attacks

Party's ruling body blocks local decision.
Mandy Richards

Labour has blocked a woman who questioned the murder of Jo Cox and whether then Manchester bombing happened from standing to become an MP.

Mandy Richards had been selected locally to fight the Worcester constituency at the next general election.

But on Wednesday Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) stepped in to remove her.

A party spokesperson said: “The NEC has not endorsed Mandy Richards as the Labour Party candidate for Worcester.”

Richards had sent several controversial tweets prior to being selected. She asked why there was “no image/footage of physical damage” to the Manchester Arena which killed 22 people last May.

And she said the murder of Labour MP Cox in June 2016 was an “incident conveniently bereft of evidence”.

Following a backlash against her selection as a parliamentary candidate, Richards denied she was a “fantasist”.

If being a victim of domestic harassment and standing up for my rights makes me a fantasist then shame on those levelling such taunts, as it is clear they would rather have women & black people suffer in silence than seek advocacy and resolution...https://t.co/ZrJn0o2vpS

— Mandy Richards (@Mandy4Labour) April 23, 2018

All candidate selections by local Constituency Labour Parties are subject to approval by the NEC.

A Labour source said Richards had “displayed a lack of judgement that is not compatible with the high standards the party expects of candidates and elected representatives”.

Labour MPs including Wes Streeting and Toby Perkins welcomed the move.

This is the right decision - and acted upon commendably fast. It clearly is possible when the will exists. https://t.co/iR25bUyw2j

— Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) April 25, 2018

Good to hear. 👏👏👏 https://t.co/NprDEggSkX

— Toby Perkins (@tobyperkinsmp) April 25, 2018

The selection process for the marginal Worcester seat, which currently has a Tory majority of 2,490, will be re-run.

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