In the first Labour deselection in more than 10 years, Sam Tarry is beaten by Jas Athwal.
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer shadow minister Sam Tarry has lost a battle to keep hold of his London seat in the first deselection of a Labour MP for more than a decade.
The vote by party members means Mr Tarry, an ex-trade union official, will not stand as Ilford South’s Labour candidate at the next general election.
He was beaten by Redbridge Council leader Jas Athwal, who won 499 votes to Mr Tarry’s 361.
Mr Athwal said it was a “real honour” to be selected.
“Ilford is my home, it is where I live, went to school and where my children all went to school. It is the only place I would ever want to represent,” he said.
“Today means Ilford can focus on the future and ensure that Westminister delivers for Ilford, that Ilford gets the investment it needs and deserves.”
Mr Tarry had been backed by the left-wing Momentum campaign group.
Meanwhile, Mr Athwal had the support of shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, who represents the neighbouring Ilford North seat.
Welcoming the result, Mr Streeting said: “Jas will be a superb representative for Ilford South. His is an Ilford story – the boy who came from the Punjab and built an education, successful businesses, and a wonderful family here.
“He’s led Redbridge Labour to three unprecedented victories because he’s a local resident who fights as hard for our community as he would for his own family.”
Huge congratulations to @Jas_Athwal – @UKLabour’s parliamentary candidate for Ilford South.
A self-made man who came to Ilford from the Punjab and built successful businesses, a wonderful family, and unprecedented Labour victories in Redbridge.
Proud to be one of his deputies👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/4oamQbY6Ds
— Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting)
Mr Tarry was sacked as shadow transport secretary by Sir Keir Starmer in July, after joining striking rail workers on a picket line.
The Labour leader said he lost his role for doing unauthorised interviews and “making up policy on the hoof”.
The vote by party members was triggered after every local branch in Mr Tarry’s constituency voted for him to go through a re-selection process.
Mr Tarry had beat Mr Athwal to contest the seat in controversial circumstances in 2019.
Just before the 2019 selection, Mr Athwal was suspended over an allegation of sexual harassment, which ruled him out of the race.
He had always denied the allegation and was later cleared. Mr Athwal claimed the complaint was “malicious” and politically motivated.
Mr Tarry has represented Ilford South since the December 2019 election. He replaced Mike Gapes, who held the seat since 1992 but resigned from Labour alongside six other MPs that February.