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Ex-Militant Tendency activist accused of bullying Louise Ellman lied about date of birth to rejoin Labour

Exclusive: Audrey White was expelled from Labour under the leadership of Neil Kinnock

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The former member of the Militant Tendency at the centre of bullying claims against Jewish MP Dame Louise Ellman used a false date of birth to rejoin the Labour Party on the day Jeremy Corbyn became leader.

The JC has learned that Audrey White told Labour chiefs she was born on the 8th of August 1995 on her application to rejoin the party – which allowed her to join Labour on September 12 2015.

But records show that the same Audrey White was one of those to be expelled from Labour under the leadership of Neil Kinnock and who is described by the official Militant history of Liverpool in the 1980s as a “long-standing Militant supporter”.

Another mention of Ms White on the TUC 150 Years website confirms that in 1983 she was the manager of the Lady at Lord John clothes store in Liverpool when her area manager harassed other women in her team.

Ms White was subsequently a member of the Socialist Party  - a reincarnation of Militant which stands under the electoral banner of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition.

Since being allowed to rejoin Labour, Ms White has launched a sustained campaign against Dame Louise in Liverpool Riverside.

Embarrassingly for the Labour leadership, Ms White has shared photographs of herself with shadow chancellor John McDonnell, Unite union boss Len McCluskey and the MP for neighbouring Liverpool Walton on her Twitter page. Another photo shows her alongside shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry.

Another member of the Liverpool Riverside branch told the JC: “Audrey White is a hardcore militant who is clearly well trained in taking control of meetings.

“She has been allowed to dominate from the very moment she was allowed back into the party.”

In 2016 Ms White called an investigation by Labour into antisemitism and entryism into the Riverside branch “libellous”.

After Labour’s ruling NEC launched their investigation, Ms White wrote  “Before you make any decisions regarding the future of our CLP I wish to remind you that the Labour Party officials who made unsubstantiated claims of antisemitism at Riverside meetings have a duty of care to all their constituents. What they did amounts to inciting racial tension.”

She added: “I am sorry to say I have no confidence in this investigation which I believe is a smokescreen to hide and excuse these powerful people. I fear that in an effort to protect Louise Ellman and (assistant mayor) Nick Small this investigation will produce a headline grabbing false narrative using the words bullying, toxic, intimidation and antisemitism while the solid facts are cast aside.

“There was no bullying and antisemitism this is a fabrication and we will not let this slur against us and our city go unchallenged.”

After a Labour meeting in April 2019, Cllr Small tweeted: “Thought I never hear the antisemitism views I heard from two members at a Labour Party meeting on Friday” and called for an investigation.

The JC has contacted Labour for comment.

When we asked Ms White about her use of a false date of birth on her Labour application form she said:”Your paper prints lies.” She slammed down the phone when asked to clarify her date of birth.

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