Labour suspends its MP Jared O’Mara as party investigates his vile internet hate and claim he called woman an ‘ugly bitch’
LABOUR has suspended its MP Jared O’Mara while the party investigates his vile internet hate.
The whip was withdrawn after senior MPs pressured Labour to act while allegations the member for Sheffield Hallam called a woman an "ugly bitch" are looked into.
This comes after a host of homophobic and racist slurs he made on online forums was uncovered – including calling Spanish people “dagos” and saying Danes are “pig-s***ers”.
He also said it would be funny if Jamie Cullum died after being repeatedly "sodomised with his own piano", claimed Michelle McManus only won Pop Idol "because she was fat", and said he would like an orgy with Girls Aloud.
The 35-year-old is now being investigated by the party, and John McDonnell branded the remarks "unacceptable".
The Shadow Chancellor has told BBC News: "There will be a full investigation by the Labour Party and then, as a result of that, a final decision will be made about his future."
Asked about Labour colleagues who had defended Mr O'Mara in recent days, Mr McDonnell said: "They were basing that judgement on the information they had before them and the information that was provided to them by Jared himself and others.
"New information has come to light, so quite rightly the Labour Party has acted swiftly. He's been suspended, the whip has been withdrawn."
Asked about the case at Prime Minister's Questions, Theresa May said: "All of us in this House should have due care and attention to the way in which we refer to other people and should show women in public life the respect they deserve."
But Mr Corbyn reportedly told Labour MPs it would be "a shame" if Mr O'Mara were to resign from the Women and Equalities select committee, hours before he stepped down over the furore.
There have been calls from the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives for him to be sacked.
And in response to his suspension Labour's Shadow Education Minister Tracy Brabin says it is "probably a wise move".
She told BBC Radio 5 Live's Emma Barnett it shows "we are" doing something.
The Conservative MP Mims Davies said of the decision: “Totally right that the whip has been suspended from Jared O'Mara for his vile homophobic and sexist comments - but why on earth has it taken so long?
“Jeremy Corbyn has for too long turned a blind eye to this kind of behaviour in the Labour Party. Unless you call it out, you're part of the problem
And Fellow Tory Suella Fernandez said: "A suspension is more than words, and that is the appropriate cause at this stage.
"This is probably is the appropriate cause of action right now."
The decision came after two former shadow ministers have thrown their weight behind the calls, with Lucy Powell questioning how he could have become an MP without these comments coming to light.
She told ITV’s After The News: “One of the key questions you are asked when you become a candidate for the Labour party - and you have to sign a contract to say this - is there anything in your past that would bring the party into disrepute?
"And I don't understand, in all honesty, how Jared could have signed that paper.”
The ex-shadow education secretary added: “That's why I think he should be suspended while that investigation is taking place."
And Lisa Nandy, speaking at the Mile End Institute last night, also called for him to go: “We have quite clear rules in the Labour Party about discrimination and the process is very clear too.
“People who have engaged in anti-Semitism or other forms of discriminatory behaviour are suspended while their case is investigated.
“We have a very clear process in the Labour Party that in my view ought to be upheld.
“In this case, just as in previous cases, it’s absolutely clear: we suspend and we investigate and we make a decision.”
And the woman he allegedly verbally abused agreed, telling Good Morning Britain Mr O’Mara should “absolutely” be suspended.
Sophie Evans said she had met the MP on a dating app, and there had been "no hard feelings" when things didn't work out between them.
But in an incident in March she said Mr O'Mara, who was DJing in a nightclub, called her an "ugly bitch”.
Mr O'Mara said this was "categorically untrue".
Ms Evans said of the alleged altercation “he just seemed to flip”, calling his comments “misogynistic, it was transphobic, angry and aggressive”.
She added: “I just wanted people to know what he’s like. I want people to know this is the man that’s representing you.”
The bar worker said she found it “hard to believe” he has changed both since this incident and his online posts.
Ms Evans continued: “Now it’s too late for him to apologise for that [incident]. I want him to apologise for calling us liars and I want him to admit what he’s done.”
Mr O’Mara apologised to his fellow Labour MPs on Monday, and released a statement saying sorry for the online comments, some of which date back to 2002.
But in an interview with Huck magazine he also blamed "lad culture and football" for "warping his mindset".
He also rejected calls to step aside as an MP - but claimed a Tory would have to consider their position because of the "culture" of their party.
Of the earlier allegations he added: “Overwhelmingly people accepted my apology, accepted my sincerity and remorse, they accepted I have been through a journey of education.”
But pro-Corbyn left-wing journalist Owen Jones, who had previously defended Mr O’Mara, tweeted this morning: “It's increasingly clear Jared O'Mara should be suspended and investigated.
“Saying vile stuff 15 years ago is one thing, eight years ago another. And yes, the allegations of misogynistic language earlier this year, too.”
It comes after a further slew of lewd comments were published this morning - including him talking about Angelina Jolie engaging in a sex act.
