The Ilford South MP was sacked as shadow transport minister in July after attending a picket in support of RMT workers, but Keir Starmer, the Labor leader, later said the reason he stood down from his role was because he politics “on the hoof” in television interviews. Unlike previous rail strikes, shadow ministers were not banned from attending picket lines. Tarry will now see a battle for his seat begin on Friday, with nominations opening for Labor candidates to contest the next election. Tarry will automatically be one of the candidates, but is likely to face at least one opponent, with the whole process expected to be completed within weeks. The re-election process began after all 10 branches in his district voted in favor of a new contest, but his supporters claim the process was rigged. Some of Tarry’s supporters within the unions tried to block the national executive from endorsing the re-election contest, but it was finally approved by a majority on Monday. A supporter of Tarry said the decision had been “moved” and “looks directly like a revenge maneuver” against him. If Tarry were to be unselected, the move could further deepen divisions between the leadership and MPs on the left of the party. After the re-election battle began, Tarry released a statement saying he had presented evidence of “rule violation, specifically evidence of voter fraud, voter impersonation, widespread voting by party members not on the electoral roll, and a dangerous increase in tensions in the community to undermine the democratic process of re-election” in the party. On Wednesday, Tarry said: “Ilford South Labor members and constituents in the constituency need an MP who will stand with workers who will defend their jobs, pay and conditions and who will fight for properly funded free public services to be financed by taxing the rich. An MP with a strong record of standing up for all of Ilford’s diverse communities and its workers. “As Labor MP for Ilford South, I am proud to join the rail workers on the picket line and will do the same with postal workers, BT staff and every other union member resisting the attacks of this right-wing government of the Tories against the workers. Ilford South needs a voice – an MP – proud to stand up for working people in parliament.” Labor declined to comment, but a party source said: “The process is being followed in the same way as for any re-election.”
