Controversial MP Jared O’Mara has been suspended by Labour chiefs pending a full investigation of misogynist and homophobic comments.
A number of high-ranking Labour MPs had called for disciplinary action after the revelations were made – initially on the Guido Fawkes website – earlier this week.
Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell told ITV's After The News: "One of the key questions you're 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. That's why I think he should be suspended while that investigation is taking place."
In posts made on music messageboards Mr O'Mara described gay men as “fudge packers” and said that overweight people did not “deserve our respect.”
He also said it would be “quite funny” if Jamie Cullum was “sodomised with his own piano”.
Mr O’Mara concedes that he made these remarks and says that he has since been on ‘a journey of education’ but disputes the claim that he called Sophie Evans, one of his constituents, an ‘ugly bitch’ earlier this year.
Full Sophie Evans interview (with strong language) on Jared O'Mara MP will be on Tue #bbcdp
— Daily&SundayPolitics (@daily_politics) October 24, 2017
"I just thought wow, he is not a very nice man" pic.twitter.com/3StHErker3
The suspension comes after Mr O’Mara voluntarily stepped down from the Women’s and Equality Select Committee yesterday.
