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| Labour bans Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk from standing in election | Labour bans Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk from standing in election |
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| Simon Danczuk, the MP for Rochdale, has been banned by Labour from standing as the party’s candidate in the general election, the Guardian has learned. | Simon Danczuk, the MP for Rochdale, has been banned by Labour from standing as the party’s candidate in the general election, the Guardian has learned. |
| The controversial MP was suspended from the party in 2015, pending an investigation, after a tabloid newspaper revealed he had sent explicit messages to a 17-year-old girl. It is unclear whether the investigation was concluded. | The controversial MP was suspended from the party in 2015, pending an investigation, after a tabloid newspaper revealed he had sent explicit messages to a 17-year-old girl. It is unclear whether the investigation was concluded. |
| Sources close to Danczuk have previously said he would stand as an independent if he was kicked out of the party and is consulting solicitors over a possible legal challenge to the decision. | Sources close to Danczuk have previously said he would stand as an independent if he was kicked out of the party and is consulting solicitors over a possible legal challenge to the decision. |
| Labour officials fear that if he stands as an independent, the former councillor would still carry some personal support and would split Labour’s vote in the Lancashire seat that has a majority of more than 12,000. | Labour officials fear that if he stands as an independent, the former councillor would still carry some personal support and would split Labour’s vote in the Lancashire seat that has a majority of more than 12,000. |
| A Labour party spokesperson confirmed the decision to the Guardian: “After considering the case of Simon Danczuk in detail and speaking to him in an interview, the Labour party’s NEC endorsement panel today unanimously recommended that he should not be endorsed as a Labour candidate. He will not be able to stand as a Labour candidate in any constituency at the general election.” Despite being banned as a candidate Danczuk has not been expelled from the party, the source said. | A Labour party spokesperson confirmed the decision to the Guardian: “After considering the case of Simon Danczuk in detail and speaking to him in an interview, the Labour party’s NEC endorsement panel today unanimously recommended that he should not be endorsed as a Labour candidate. He will not be able to stand as a Labour candidate in any constituency at the general election.” Despite being banned as a candidate Danczuk has not been expelled from the party, the source said. |
| A friend of Danczuk said he was seeking advice over the decision. He pointed out that Danczuk has previously been named as campaigner of the year in parliament and was commended for his work with constituents and over child abuse claims against the late MP Cyril Smith. | A friend of Danczuk said he was seeking advice over the decision. He pointed out that Danczuk has previously been named as campaigner of the year in parliament and was commended for his work with constituents and over child abuse claims against the late MP Cyril Smith. |
| “Simon has made some silly mistakes and he’d be the first to admit that. But let’s not forget it wasn’t long ago that he was forcing Tory ministers to stand up in the House of Commons and issue grovelling apologies, he was briefing Theresa May on why she needed to launch an independent child abuse inquiry and he was getting corrupt politicians jailed in Sri Lanka for killing his constituent,” the friend said. | “Simon has made some silly mistakes and he’d be the first to admit that. But let’s not forget it wasn’t long ago that he was forcing Tory ministers to stand up in the House of Commons and issue grovelling apologies, he was briefing Theresa May on why she needed to launch an independent child abuse inquiry and he was getting corrupt politicians jailed in Sri Lanka for killing his constituent,” the friend said. |
| “Simon doesn’t blame anyone else for this. It’s his responsibility, but the Labour party have handled it terribly. He’s been suspended for nearly one-and-a-half years and they’ve not even got round to listening to his version of events yet. There’s a culture of incompetence in the party nowadays that’s affecting everything they do. It was obvious that Simon was having a breakdown as his personal life spiralled out of control and the party should have reached out, instead of just isolating him.” | “Simon doesn’t blame anyone else for this. It’s his responsibility, but the Labour party have handled it terribly. He’s been suspended for nearly one-and-a-half years and they’ve not even got round to listening to his version of events yet. There’s a culture of incompetence in the party nowadays that’s affecting everything they do. It was obvious that Simon was having a breakdown as his personal life spiralled out of control and the party should have reached out, instead of just isolating him.” |
| The MP has previously said the texts to the teenager had been sent at “an extremely low point” in his life, but the exposé has been followed by a series of scandals, including his arrest in Spain after an alleged row with his estranged wife, Karen. | |
| He also admitted being paid for pictures of his private life sold by a photo agency to tabloids, though said the deal had been above board. | He also admitted being paid for pictures of his private life sold by a photo agency to tabloids, though said the deal had been above board. |
| Danczuk’s nearest rival at the 2015 election was a Ukip candidate who won 8,519 votes, closely followed by a Conservative with 7,742 votes. | |
| NEC members are due to meet on 3 May to approve all the candidates selected for the 630 seats the party will contest across the UK, including sitting MPs. Labour officials from party headquarters have told local Rochdale members that an official decision will be announced after the meeting on 3 May. The deadline for Labour’s candidate nominations is 5 May. |