Labour MP of UK’s ‘Little India’ faces criminal charge for harassment

Labour MP Claudia Webbe, whose candidature in Leicester East – higher often called ‘Little India’ – within the December 2019 election generated a lot resentment within the social gathering, was on Monday charged with harassment in opposition to a girl and now faces a trial.

Webbe, reputed to be near former Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn, was nominated for the seat represented since 1987 by Keith Vaz. Claims of Indian-origin candidates comparable to Sundip Meghani had been ignored in favour of Webbe, who went on to win within the Labour stronghold with a smaller margin.

Jenny Hopkins of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) stated: “The CPS has today decided that Claudia Webbe, MP for Leicester East, should be charged with an offence of harassment against one female”.

“The CPS made the decision after receiving a file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police”.

“Criminal proceedings against Ms Webbe are now active and she has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings,” she added.

The identification of the girl who was allegedly harassed by Webbe was not disclosed.

Meghani, who resigned from Labour in August after 20 years within the social gathering, was amongst a number of Indian-origin candidates who had been ignored by Labour within the 2019 election, together with Navin Shah and Kailash Chand. It was one other level of ennui for the Indian neighborhood that was already upset with the social gathering’s pro-interventionist decision on Jammu and Kashmir.

Labour Friends of India, a outstanding foyer group throughout the social gathering, had expressed its dismay over candidate choice and warned the management below Corbyn to not take the assist of the 1.5 million-strong Indian neighborhood as a right.

“We express regret that the Labour party has selected just one candidate of Indian heritage in 39 safe seats, and no Indian heritage candidate in 100 target seats…Despite shortlisting or selecting candidates in areas with a large Indian community such as Leicester, Ealing, Ilford, West Bromwich and Derby, no Indian-heritage candidates were selected”, the group had stated.

“There is a risk this failure to increase representation of Indians in parliament could hit Labour further…The Labour party must ensure it is never seen to take the support of the Indian community for granted”, it added.

Keir Starmer, who changed Corbyn because the social gathering chief earlier this yr, has promised a brand new management type that pulls a line below the conflicts triggered throughout his predecessor’s tenure. He has since made pro-India and pro-Indian neighborhood overtures since taking on.