Labour expels party member for expressing SNP support on social media
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Version 0 of 1. At least one Labour party member who expressed support for Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP on social media before the general election has been thrown out of the party, it has emerged. The party took the extraordinary decision just two weeks after the election via a letter, informing a “Mr McLean” of Labour’s membership rules and his consequent exclusion from the party until 2020. Interesting that it's the job of UK Labour to inform Scottish Labour members they're expelled for voting SNP. pic.twitter.com/sJ57si79lm The letter, tweeted by BuzzFeed political reporter Jamie Ross, stated that the individual would be removed from the national membership system and would no longer be entitled to attend local Labour party meetings. Some Twitter users were sceptical of the content in the letter, suggesting a potential hoax, but a Labour source has confirmed to the Observer that the letter “did come from us”. The source refused to say how many letters had been sent to party members, and it is not known whether any other members have been expelled in this way. The letter states: “It has been brought to my attention that you publicly stated via social media that you would not be voting Labour in the recent general election, but that instead you would be supporting the Scottish Nationalist party”. Under Labour party rules “any member of the party who joins and/or supports a political organisation other than an official Labour group or unit of the party ... shall automatically be ineligible to be or remain a party member”. Please tell me that Labour letter is a hoax. If not, there truly is no hope for them. Ian Dunt, editor of Politics.co.uk, responding to the letter, tweeted: “Please tell me that Labour letter is a hoax. If not, there truly is no hope for them.” A spokesperson for the Labour party said: “A member who supports a political organisation other than an official Labour party group or unit is ineligible to remain a party member.” The letter, signed by the party’s compliance officer in Glasgow, ended: “The NEC [national executive committee] will only relax the ‘five year’ exclusion period in what it deems to be exceptional circumstances.” |