Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle has been suspended by the Labour Party following a complaint about his behaviour, rendering him ineligible to run as a candidate in the upcoming July 4th 2024 election.
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Russell-Moyle, who represents Brighton Kemptown, disclosed that the complaint pertains to an incident from eight years ago, which he categorizes as “vexatious and politically motivated.”
He expressed his intention to cooperate with the investigation process to clear his name, asserting his belief in full exoneration.
Acknowledging the complaint’s receipt, the Labour Party confirmed its investigation into the matter.
Russell-Moyle, a former councillor for Brighton and Hove City Council, conveyed his surprise at the sudden complaint, emphasizing its anonymous nature.
Lloyd Russell-Moyle posted a personal statement on social media, saying that the complaint letter came “out of the blue” from someone “who remains anonymous to me”.
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He said: “This is a false allegation that I dispute totally and I believe it was designed to disrupt this election. “There isn’t enough time to defend myself as these processes within the party take too long, so the party have told me that I will not be eligible to be a candidate at the next election. I’m gutted.”
He added he would work with the investigation processes “to clear my name” and would look at “how to contribute to public life in different ways” meantime and still hoped to see a Labour government.
A spokesperson for the Labour Party reiterated the party’s commitment to investigating complaints thoroughly and taking appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with its rules.
The National Executive Committee of the Labour Party is set to convene to finalize the party’s candidate list. Meanwhile, the deadline for candidate registration set by the Electoral Commission is June 7th.
In the 2019 general election, Russell-Moyle secured re-election as MP for Brighton Kemptown, albeit with a reduced vote share and majority. Other candidates contesting the seat include representatives from the Conservatives, Greens, Liberal Democrats, Party of Women, Social Democratic Party, and Workers Party of Britain.
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