Suspension at Labour constituency

Read Brian Taylor's blog

Labour has suspended business at its largest Scottish constituency party amid a row over the re-selection of local MP Anne Moffat as a candidate.

The East Lothian constituency is now effectively overseen by the Labour Party's National Executive Committee.

Ms Moffat declined to comment in detail, saying it was an "internal Labour Party matter".

Labour insiders have said the local party had behaved "unconstitutionally" and "defied" the national party.

The move means there can be no formal meetings of the constituency party or business transacted, although campaigning can continue.

Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray, who is the MSP for East Lothian, said his work as a local politician would continue as normal.

This is a matter for the constituency Labour Party and the party at a national level Iain Gray Scottish Labour leader

The suspension came after a meeting of the NEC on Tuesday, amid a lengthy, ongoing dispute about whether Ms Moffat should be re-selected to defend the East Lothian seat at the next UK election.

It is expected that a full internal investigation will be carried out by the national executive into the local party and its affairs.

Mr Gray said: "This is a matter for the constituency Labour Party and the party at a national level.

"I am pleased that the National Executive Committee is seeking to resolve it and I hope that will happen quickly."