MP Sam Tarry pulls out of Palestine event with JVL activist who sued Labour

Labour MP Sam Tarry has withdrawn from speaking at a pro-Palestine event which was also to feature one of the activists who launched a failed High Court legal action against Sir Keir Starmer’s party.

A spokesperson for the Ilford South MP claimed he would not be  attending Monday’s online launch of the Redbridge Palestine Solidarity Campaign branch due to the recent flooding in his constituency. A Labour Party source also confirmed to Jewish News that Tarry will not be attending Monday evening’s event.

Jewish News had emailed Tarry’s parliamentary office at the weekend to confirm his appearance at the event, which is being broadcast on Zoom, but there was no response. Our request to register for the Zoom event was approved at 2.26pm on Monday, with the email still confirming Tarry’s involvement.

But his spokesperson later claimed he had pulled out of the event on Saturday.

Tarry had been due to speak at the event alongside Jewish Voice For Labour member Diana Neslen –  one of eight activists who lost a High Court claim against Labour earlier this month over the party’s disciplinary processes after they were investigated amid antisemitism claims.

Meanwhile reports on Monday suggested Tarry had faced questions within this constituency about his whereabouts over the weekend. His office said the MP did do a tour of the constituency “immediately after the torrential rain yesterday”.

Both the Labour MP for Ilford North Wes Streeting and Redbridge council leader Jas Athwal were seen out helping residents in the worst affected homes in the area.