Mark Perryman reflects on the circumstances surrounding Labour’s replacement of Lloyd Russell-Moyle as its candidate for Brighton Kemptown.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle is the MP for Kemptown, the neighbouring constituency to Lewes. He went to school here. His mum and dad are active members of the Labour Party in Lewes. He was the Labour candidate here in 2015.

At the 2017 General Election carload after carload of us went over to Moulsecomb to help him get elected.

He speaks regularly at Lewes Labour events, always supports us in any Lewes CLP elections. His presence here always appreciated

Yet Lewes Constituency Labour Party  has banned Lloyd’s dignified and measured statement from appearing on any local social media because he is “no longer a candidate”.

Of course none of us know the nature of the accusation that has led to Lloyd being barred but there are a number of very rum facts and curious coincidences.

First, this is an accusation dating back eight years, that’s 2016, before Lloyd was an MP.

Second, there may be good reasons why the accuser has waited so long, for example trauma, but there has been no suggestion Lloyd is being accused of a criminal offence so the severity of any misdemeanour has to be questioned and leaves a reasonable doubt as to the exact cause for the incredibly long wait.

Third, now we get to the uncanny coincidences. The accusation comes to light not when Lloyd was democratically reselected by the local Party as their candidate but when it was too late for a replacement to be democratically selected. Strange, that.

Fourth, and as if by magic, Chris Ward, who formerly worked in Keir Starmer’s office, just happens to be available to step in and save the day.

Fifth, Nancy Platts, Labour candidate for Kemptown in 2015, who came within a few hundred votes of winning, former Brighton Council leader, puts herself forward to be the candidate, with Lloyd’s support. Yet while being interviewed, strangely enough the NEC selection committee had already announced to journalist Michael Crick that Chris had got it. Surely some mistake? Nope.

Sixth, Sir Keir is a former Director of Public Prosecutions – it’s what he got his knighthood for. So one might assume he is aware of the basic legal concept  ‘innocent until proven guilty’. No one yet has the proof suggested Lloyd did, or did not do, what he’s been accused of. Let him stand, investigate, if he did whatever it is, withdraw the whip, expel from the Parliamentary Labour Party. If not, don’t.

Seventh, some of those who made this decision have been rewarded with safe seats without having to go through any local democratic selection process like all other candidates. Strange, that.

Eighth, this is a party who’s message of ‘change’ is founded on a core principle: democratising and decentralising power. Without comment.

In conclusion, I choose my words carefully as the Labour Party Compliance Unit may be watching.

Will I be canvassing in Kemptown as I did in 2017? Nope, strangely enough my diary appears to be entirely full with canvassing in Worthing West and Crawley, where there are brilliant Labour candidates, democratically selected.

Do I want Labour to win in Kemptown? Yes: the only alternative is a Tory.

Will I be visibly upset if Labour doesn’t win in Kemptown? No. Labour rules only apply to actions, not emotions – well so far they do. Any defeat, or much reduced majority, will be entirely down to those responsible for the barring of Lloyd, from Sir Keir downwards.

 Mark Perryman organises events for Lewes CLP. His latest book Corbynism from Below is available here

Image: Lloyd Russell-Moyle. https://api20170418155059.azure-api.net/photo/xXTvcHDg.jpeg?download=trueGallery: https://beta.parliament.uk/media/xXTvcHDg. Author: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_McAndrew, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.