Corbyn Adviser Suspended Over Class War Tweet

Jeremy Corbyn's policy adviser Andrew Fisher has been suspended from the Labour Party over complaints he backed a rival party in the General Election.

Mr Fisher had faced calls for his expulsion after suggesting people should vote for a Class War candidate against Labour's Emily Benn in the Croydon South seat in May.

There have also been protests about his social media attacks on senior party figures - including Tony Blair and Jack Straw.

The Labour leader said he continues to have "full confidence" in Mr Fisher, who will remain employed by his office.

The party's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) has been asked to investigate and recommend disciplinary action if appropriate.

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Ms Benn - the granddaughter of Tony Benn - made a formal complaint against Mr Fisher after he sent a tweet in August last year calling for people to back one of her rivals.

He wrote: "FFS if you live in Croydon South, vote with dignity, vote @campaignbeard" - referring to Class War parliamentary candidate Jon Bigger.

When asked by a friend on Facebook if he had ever met Mr Fisher, Mr Bigger replied: "He used to work in PCS HQ but I last met him on election day where he was campaigning for Labour in Croydon Central.

"He wished me luck. But he's absolutely a Labour guy through and through.

"I also thanked him for the tweet and support last year - there was no hint of it being a joke at the time."

According to Labour rules, any member who supports a politician standing against a Labour candidate "shall automatically be ineligible to be or remain a party member".

Mr Fisher deleted his Twitter account last week.

He also wrote to Labour's general secretary Iain McNicol to say he "completely and unreservedly" apologises for his social media message, which he claimed had been "misinterpreted".

"I obviously do not and did not support Class War in any way, let alone in an election. I was and am committed to the election of a Labour government and a successful and united Labour Party," he said.

"I accept that the tweet has been misinterpreted and has caused embarrassment and understandable upset among party members, which I regret."

It is not the first time Mr Fisher has been criticised for his social media comments.

He described Ed Miliband's frontbench as "the most abject collection of complete s***e" and said Tony Blair should be charged with war crimes for his role in the Iraq war.

He also celebrated Ed Balls' election defeat, saying it was "fitting that the architect of Labour's miserable austerity-lite economic policies should lose".

Mr Corbyn said: "I have full confidence in Andrew Fisher and his work. I respect the integrity of the General Secretary's office and trust that this matter will be settled as quickly as possible."