It has been publicly reported that the Labour Party has suspended Laura Pascal, its candidate for the Cazenove by-election, and ceased all campaigning for her. We call on the Labour Party to confirm whether this is the case, and if so the reasons for it.

We and others in the community had previously raised serious concerns about grossly offensive and prejudiced comments shared and ‘liked’ by Laura Pascal on Twitter/X. Calls for Hackney Labour to address these concerns, and to explain why Pascal was selected as a candidate in the first place, have been and continue to be met with silence.

Tamara Micner, Green Party candidate for Cazenove, said: “I stand wholeheartedly with all communities in Hackney, whose diversity is our borough’s great strength. My aim in this by-election campaign has always been to bring the people of Cazenove together and help heal divisions.

“If elected as your Green councillor on Thursday 18th, I will stand up for all Cazenove residents and add to the fantastic work that Hackney Green councillors are already doing to hold the Labour administration to account and make Hackney a safe community for everyone”.