JOHN MANN has claimed the pro-Corbyn executive of the Labour Party “stitched up” multiple MP selections ahead of the 2019 snap general election.
The Former Labour MP, now an independent member of the House of Lords, made the comments in response to this week’s deselection of left wing Labour MP Sam Tarry in his Ilford South seat.
John Mann told GB News that he believes this was not an isolated incident.
Speaking to Tom Harwood he said: “It was totally stitched up, but it wasn’t just there, it was done. In the seat I used to represent, Bassetlaw, at the same time they did exactly the same thing. Trumped up charges against the person who had actually been selected there, who came from London and was moderate in the Labour Party, totally fictitious charges and they got rid of her and put in their own stooge.”
Asked if he was suggesting across 2019, the pro-Corbyn Labour Party trumped up bogus harassment allegations against a number of candidates to get the Blairites out and the Corbynites in, Lord Mann responded “that’s exactly what they did.”
“Bogus trumped up charges,” he said. “The ones I am very aware of were the ones in Bassetlaw. They were absolutely extraordinary. They were totally fictitious. They were outrageous.”
“And the only question was did the candidate in the middle of a general election sue her own party for the outrageous stuff that they did. She chose not to do so, and Mr. Athwal chose not to do so. He has got his ‘revenge’ you might say.”
Lord Mann’s comments come days after former shadow minister Mr Tarry lost a battle to keep hold of his London seat in what was the first deselection of a Labour MP for more than a decade.
The vote by party members means Mr Tarry, an ex-trade union official, will not stand as Ilford South’s Labour candidate at the next general election.
He was beaten by Redbridge Council leader Jas Athwal, by 499 votes to 361.
Mr Tarry had previously beaten Mr Athwal to contest the seat in controversial circumstances in 2019.
Just before the 2019 selection, Mr Athwal, who had been the favourite to win, until he was suspended over “extremely serious allegations”, which ruled him out of the race.
He had always denied the allegations and was later cleared. Mr Athwal claimed the complaint was “malicious” and politically motivated.
The move sparked accusations of a “stitch-up” to allow Mr Tarry, a supporter of the then party leader Jeremy Corbyn, to become the candidate.
Mr Tarry has represented Ilford South since the December 2019 election. He replaced Mike Gapes, who had held the seat since 1992 but resigned from Labour alongside six other MPs that February.
Speaking after the results of Monday night’s vote were announced, Mr Athwal said it was a “real honour” to be selected.
“Ilford is my home, it is where I live, went to school and where my children all went to school. It is the only place I would ever want to represent,” he said.
“Today means Ilford can focus on the future and ensure that Westminster delivers for Ilford, that Ilford gets the investment it needs and deserves.”
Mr Tarry, who had been backed by the left-wing Momentum campaign group, said he was “incredibly disappointed”.
He added that he intended to issue a further statement on Tuesday “on the process and outcome”.
Mr Athwal had the support of shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, who represents the neighbouring Ilford North seat.
Welcoming the result, Mr Streeting said: “Jas will be a superb representative for Ilford South. His is an Ilford story – the boy who came from the Punjab and built an education, successful businesses, and a wonderful family here.
“He’s led Redbridge Labour to three unprecedented victories because he’s a local resident who fights as hard for our community as he would for his own family.”
GB News has contacted Mr Tarry and Mr Corbyn for comment.
