LEFTY Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle has been suspended by the Labour Party over a “serious” complaint about his behaviour.

It means the Brighton Kemptown MP, a staunch ally of Jeremy Corbyn, could now be dropped from standing for Labour at the General Election in July.

Alamy

Lloyd Russell-Moyle denies the allegations and says he has not been told who has made them[/caption]

It is understood the 37-year-old was sent a letter last week by party bosses informing him he had been suspended pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

The suspension followed what sources called a “serious complaint” being made against him, which the MP has publicly denied.

In a message to local campaigners obtained by The Times, Russell-Moyle said: “I’ve been working day and night since the election was called for success not only in Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven but across Sussex.

“Yesterday, out of the blue, I received an ‘administrative suspension letter.’

“Someone (who remains anonymous to me) has made what I believe to be a vexatious and politically motivated complaint about my behaviour eight years ago.

“This is a false allegation that I dispute totally and I believe it was designed to disrupt this election.

“There isn’t enough time to defend myself as these processes within the party take too long, so the party have told me that I will not be eligible to be a candidate at the next election.”

He continued: “I’m gutted. I’ve spent the last decade of my life building one of the best campaigning CLPs in the country.

“I’ve been so inspired by everyone pulling together in the last week and excited for the campaign to come.

“We have an amazing local party, and I am sorry most of all for you party members who will be let down by this.”

His suspension means Labour could seek to choose a new candidate in the plum constituency, which they are expected to easily hold.

A party spokesman told The Sun: “The Labour Party takes all complaints extremely seriously and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures, and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken.”

A self-described socialist, Russell-Moyle was first elected in 2017 with a 9,500 majority and served as shadow minister for Asia and the Americas under Jeremy Corbyn.

He was sent packing from Labour’s front bench by Sir Keir Starmer in 2020 and has since campaigned on LGBT issues including outlawing gay conversion therapy.

The activist MP has previously sparked controversy by grabbing the ceremonial mace in the House of Commons in 2018 in protest at a Brexit vote.

He was stopped from leaving with the five-foot staff by two female Serjeants at Arms.