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Kate Osborne, who is running in the Jarrow constituency, sparked outrage for sharing the shocking image on her Facebook page and apologised as a result. Local members however now claim it is “astonishing” Ms Osborne has been selected for the election contest regardless of the post shared in the run-up to the 2017 snap election. A plea from Labour’s female MPs has demanded Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) go back on their decision to allow her to stand.
Up to 37 of Labour’s Jarrow constituency members said in a letter to general secretary Jennie Formby their protest was “not about political views” and instead to do with the image being shared less than one year after the tragic murder of Jo Cox, Politics Home reports.
The letter reads: “In an environment of increasing threats of violence against woman politicians of all political parties (including several signatories to this letter), it seems astonishing to us that someone who has posted such content is deemed suitable to be a parliamentary candidate for Labour.
“As we understand from the media Kate has apologised for the post.
“However sometimes an apology is not enough: in our view the judgement demonstrated by posting such an appalling and unacceptable image in first place should incompatible with Labour candidature.
“The endorsement of such a candidate sends a message that threats of violence against women in politics can sometimes be accepted.
“We urge you even at this late stage to reconsider your decision and remove Kate Osborne from being our candidate in Jarrow. We look forward to urgent assistance in this matter.”
Ms Osborne failed last week to be chosen as a candidate in Blyth Valley.
She is however a member of Unite’s executive council and is believed to have won the support of Mr Corbyn.
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“She deleted the parody image of Theresa May two years ago when concerns about it were first raised and has fully apologised.”
Ms Osborne is the latest in a list of faux pas Labour has made in selecting their candidates.
Shadow international development secretary Dan Carden, who is looking to be re-selected as an MP for Liverpool Walton, has been forced to deny singing “hey Jews” instead of The Beatles classic ‘Hey Jude’ on a bus journey in March 2018.
Meanwhile, another Labour candidate quit in Aberdeenshire after the Jewish Chronicle reported she compared Israel to an abused child who becomes an abusive adult.
And a Clacton Labour candidate quit the race when it was claimed he called a Jewish councillor Shylock.
Gideon Bull denied calling the councillor the offensive term to his face, but added he had used it in private.
Mr Corny told the BBC on Thursday that “anti-Semitism is a poison and an evil” and insisted members who have used anti-Semitic language have been suspended or expelled.
He also said an education programme had been set up to tackle the issue.
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