We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Shaun Bailey criticises Angela Rayner for 'scum' comment

The former Conservative candidate for Mayor of London has bowed to calls for him to resign after the Tories admitted an event organised by the Assembly Member’s campaign team took place at the party’s Westminster headquarters on 14 December last year. This was in spite of a ban on mixing between households being observed by families up and down the country.

Four of Mr Bailey’s campaign staffers were subsequently disciplined by CCHQ after the revelations in the Times.

No. 10 aides were allegedly at the party which featured dancing, wine-drinking and went on until the early hours at a time when the capital was under Tier 2 restrictions.

Mr Bailey had been due to grill Mayor London Sadiq Khan’s team over its policing strategy on Wednesday but it is understood that Labour Assembly Members had threatened to call for him to stand down at the start of the session.

An email from the London Assembly seen by MyLondon says that City Hall Tory leader Susan Hall AM will take over in the interim.

One Assembly Member told MyLondon that Mr Bailey’s “silence speaks volumes”.

A GLA Conservative spokesman told the same publication: “Shaun Bailey AM has today stood aside as Chairman of the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee.

“He does not want an unauthorised social gathering involving some former members of the London mayoral campaign team last December to distract from the Committee’s important work holding the Mayor of London to account.

“He will continue to speak up for Londoners who no longer feel safe in our city and push for a strategy to tackle the disproportionate level of crime in London’s black community.”

Unmesh Desai AM, Labour’s London Assembly policing lead, told MyLondon: “Shaun Bailey still has to answer questions put to him by the Labour group.”

It is believed that Mr Bailey gave a speech to staff at the Christmas party, and thanked them for their work.

London Conservatives insist it was only after this point that the event became a party. Mr Bailey is reportedly a tee-totaller, who since the news broke has maintained a low profile on social media.

City Hall Labour said Mr Bailey’s role as chair of the London Assembly’s police committee, which scrutinises the Met Police and the Mayor on crime, was untenable following the resignations.

DON’T MISS: 
Klitschko asks Germany for help to fight off Putin’s invasion [REVEALED] 
Russia nuclear war warning: Putin threatens to unleash hellfire [LATEST] 
Lord Frost’s ‘softer tone’ causing ‘alarm’ [REPORT]

Acting London Assembly Labour chair Leonie Cooper AM wrote in a letter to Mr Bailey: “Londoners will have read the allegations that you attended a party at CCHQ, organised by your campaign, on December 14 whilst Tier 2 restrictions were in place, and will understandably want answers.”

It is understood that Mr Bailey failed to reply to the letter.

A leaked image appears to show Mr Bailey among 24 people crowded in a room posing for the picture at the alleged party on 14 December.

In the photo uncovered by the Daily Mirror,members of the group, some in party hats, raise glasses next to a buffet table.

The development will come as yet another blow to the prime minister who has been beset by a string of alleged Christmas party lockdown rule breaches.

Mr Bailey, according to City A.M., had been talking up his prospects of Prime Minister Boris Johnson rewarding him with a seat in the House of Lords.

He had out-performed expectations at the mayoral election in May, increasing the Conservative Party’s vote from the 2016 race despite London’s swing away from the Tories at the last two general elections.

Mr Bailey has been approached for comment.

Source: Read Full Article