EXCL: Labour has suspended two of the leading candidates standing for election to the party’s governing body.
I understand the decision to suspend Jo Bird and Mohammed Azam, pending investigation, was taken last night. [Thread]
I understand the decision to suspend Jo Bird and Mohammed Azam, pending investigation, was taken last night. [Thread]
Labour Party spokesperson confirms but does not give details on reasons for suspension: 
Latest official party tally shows Wirral councillor Jo Bird had already won 45 CLP endorsements in NEC by-election contest and was backed by the Labour Left Alliance, the Labour Representation Committee and Jewish Voice for Labour labour.org.uk/activist-hub/g…
Same official tally puts former NEC member and Oldham councillor Mohammed Azam on 26 CLP nominations with support from Campaign for Labour Party Democracy and the Labour Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
Jo Bird was suspended in March last year for referring to "Jew process" during a speech. She was allowed back into the party after apologising and receiving a formal warning. She failed to get selected as candidate for Liverpool Riverside at the last election.
The timing of the suspensions will inevitably raise questions about political motivation given the growing signs of disagreement on left of the party - unusually there was no candidate slate agreed between Momentum, Campaign for Labour Party Democracy, LRC or Labour Left Alliance
Labour’s official CLP endorsement tally says Lauren Townsend and Leigh Drennan (the NEC candidates backed by Momentum for the vacant CLP rep positions) currently have 32 and 6 constituency endorsements respectively, although it looks like @LabourList numbers more up-to-date
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