A Harrow councillor says she feels “criminalised” after being suspended from the Labour party because of claims she was rude at a meeting.

Pamela Fitzpatrick, who represents constituents in the Headstone South ward, received an email on Sunday from NEC general secretary Iain McNicol informing her of her immediate suspension from the party.

However no details of the allegation against Councillor Fitzpatrick were given in the email, leaving her in the dark about where and when the supposed offence took place.   

“I am the first to hold my hand up if I have done something wrong but I know I am not rude at meetings. People who don’t support my ideas would still agree with that,” she stated.

She has contacted the NEC – Labour’s governing body – for details of the complaint against her but, despite being promised the information by Tuesday night, she has still not received it.

Harrow Times:

Cllr Fitzpatrick said the anxiety caused by the suspension left her unable to eat or sleep for two days.

“It is bizarre. I just an email out of the blue on Sunday morning and, because of the bank holiday, had to wait until Tuesday to query it,” she said.

“I feel I have been criminalised. There’s not even a date given for when I supposedly committed the offence. Quite frankly it’s causing me quite a lot of stress

“There was no information on the email. I wouldn’t have known about having to appeal within 14 days if someone hadn’t told me.

“I put in an appeal even though I didn’t know what I had done wrong, but how can you mount a proper appeal if you don’t know the allegation?

“Now I just have to wait and wait.”

As a result of the damning accusation, Cllr Fitzpatrick says she will unable to join in upcoming council discussions on policy matters, including important budgetary decisions.

However council leader Sachin Shah lent his support to Ms Fitzpatrick, saying he was unaware of the allegations against her, and would continue to include her in council business until that time.

Cllr Fitzpatrick has been a Labour member for years, and is a vocal supporter of incumbent Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

She has her colours firmly nailed to the mast, having spoken at Corbyn support rallies in the past, as well as at meetings of Labour-backing organisation Momentum.  

She speculated that the accusation levied against her may be the result of her advocacy of the Labour leader, especially in the midst of a leadership contest between Mr Corbyn and his challenger Owen Smith.

The leadership contest so far has been marred by accusations of bullying from both sides.

The London Labour Party was contacted but said it does not comment on individual cases.