Labour MPs back calls for Jared O'Mara to be suspended during verbal abuse probe

Labour MPs have backed calls for Jared O'Mara to be suspended while the party investigates claims he called a constituent an "ugly b****" just months before he was elected.

Former shadow education secretary Lucy Powell condemned the allegations of verbal abuse, which were revealed after the emergence of racist, homophobic and sexist comments the Sheffield Hallam MP made on online message boards more than a decade ago.

Mr O'Mara, who claimed former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg's seat in the election, is facing a party probe after constituent Sophie Evans claimed he called her an "ugly b****" and made transphobic slurs in March this year - a claim he "categorically denies".

He also resigned from the Commons Women and Equalities Committee over a string of derogatory remarks he made in online forums in the early 2000s.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has faced pressure to remove the whip from Mr O'Mara as his comments drew condemnation from opposition parties.

Ms Powell told ITV: "One of the key questions you are asked when you become a candidate for the Labour Party - and you have to sign a contract to say this - is there anything in your past that would bring the party into disrepute? And I don't understand how in all honesty Jared could have signed that paper."

She added: "That's why I think he should be suspended while that investigation is taking place."

Fellow Labour MP Lisa Nandy, a former shadow cabinet member, also said he should be suspended, telling an event at Queen Mary University in London: "We have a very clear process in the Labour Party that in my view ought to be upheld.

"In this case - just as in previous cases - it's absolutely clear. We suspend, we investigate and we make a decision."

It comes after former shadow business secretary Clive Lewis had to apologise for for telling a man “get on your knees, b****” at a Momentum event during the Labour Party conference.

Earlier, Mr O’Mara said he had made a “full and unreserved” apology to Labour MPs about the online remarks, and felt “deeply ashamed” of his past comments.

“Overwhelmingly, people accepted my apology, accepted my sincerity and remorse; they accepted I have been through a journey of education,” he said in an interview.

“I’ve stood down from the Women and Equalities Select Committee too – I think it’s the right thing to do. I don’t think I can continue on that committee when I feel so deeply ashamed of the man I was 15 years ago.”

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “The party is investigating Jared O’Mara MP in relation to comments and behaviour which have been reported from earlier this year.”