Eagle backs probe into CLP insults

Angela Eagle today condemned bullying and intimidation after her Merseyside constituency Labour Party (CLP) was suspended over claims of homophobia.

The former leadership contender, who stood down from the race last night, said bigotry had no place in the party after Labour’s regional office took control of the CLP.

It follows a series of unhappy episodes which came in the aftermath of Eagle revealing her intention to challenge Jeremy Corbyn. Some local members laid down a motion of no-confidence in Eagle while yobs threw a brick through her constituency office window last week. It is unknown whether the vandal was a Labour member.

Today Eagle, who is gay, backed the plan to look into the dispute.

“Bullying, intimidation, misogyny and homophobia have no place in the Labour Party and it is right that the national Labour Party now investigate this behaviour. I hope that the issues can be resolved, and that we can have an active, inclusive and effective local Labour Party that can tackle the real problems faced in our local community,” she said in a statement.

Paul Davies, vice-chair of Wallasey CLP and a backer of Corbyn, claimed he was being picked out for attention.

“Wallasey isn’t a rough, tough place that has noisy, violent meetings,” he told the BBC

“It’s all been made up in order to smear people like me who are demanding democracy in the Labour Party.

Labour officials have suspended CLP meetings for the length of the leadership contest with the exception of meetings to nominate candidates, prepare for conference or organise for by-election and mayoral campaigns.

A spokesperson for North West Labour said: “Any complaints of bullying or intimidation and allegations of misconduct are always taken very seriously.”

Corbyn has repeatedly criticised any abuse, threats ore violence. Last week he said he “utterly” condemned the person who threw a brick through the window of Eagle’s office.