Titbits – Among the ‘purged’, and a councillor’s shrewd move

◆ As Labour’s internal strife continues, step forward Terry Stewart, who says he is among those “purged” from the party.

The Homerton campaigner was a member of Left Unity but said he quit early last year to join Labour.

Email correspondence appears to indicate he joined in July 2015 but was told two months later that his application had in fact been rejected by a panel of the National Executive Committee who believed he was a member of another party.

Interesting aside: Stewart is the son of Ramsay MacDonald (not that Ramsay MacDonald), and says his parents and grandfather were all Labour stalwarts. He is currently attempting to appeal against the NEC’s decision.

◆ Meanwhile, the result of the Labour leadership election will be announced on 24 September – just a week after the Hackney mayoral poll.

Labour’s candidate, Philip Glanville, has refused to take sides, however, saying he will endorse neither Corbyn nor Smith and probably won’t vote.

A shrewd move, no doubt, in a borough where the Corbyn fan club Momentum is strong.