Barking MP candidate criticised for banner on gravestones

Labour's parliamentary candidate to become MP for Barking in east London has been called "disrespectful to the dead" after his campaign banner was photographed attached to gravestones.

Darren Rodwell, who is also leader of the local council, held a launch event in Barking Abbey Grounds on Saturday.

His banner was seen fixed to headstones at a church on the same site.

Mr Rodwell says he "wasn't being disrespectful" and his team were fetching more straps at the time.

The Barking and Dagenham Council leader was launching his parliamentary campaign when a passer-by spotted the banner and says he took it down.

Matt Lismore, who says he is himself a member of the Labour Party, said he was walking his dog when he saw the rope tied around two gravestones.

"What occurred at Barking Abbey this weekend was astonishing, saddening and frustrating in equal measure," he said.

"It's damaging to the party and disrespectful to the dead. It shouldn't have been there."

Mr Rodwell told BBC London someone had taken a photo and "alluded to the fact we were doing this" but insisted he and his team were not.

He said "we tried to put a banner up" but at the abbey "you can't stick anything into the ground, you can't stick anything on the wall", adding that "while we had to go and get some more straps, unfortunately, someone took a photo and said 'oh look, they're hanging the banner from gravestones'".

"We haven't done that, and if you actually look at my campaign photo, you'll see that it's along the wall line."

It is understood the national Labour Party will be taking action.

Mr Lismore said he took the banner down and was confronted by Mr Rodwell, during which he alleged the council leader said the banner was "not on graves, it's on gravestones".

This allegation was put to Mr Rodwell's team to comment.

Mr Lismore has called for Mr Rodwell to resign as council leader: "It's really concerning to me that Darren hasn't apologised. I urge the party to investigate this matter to establish if disciplinary proceedings need to be taken."

Barking and Council said it would be inappropriate to comment on a "party political" issue.

Mr Rodwell was selected as Barking and Dagenham's candidate last October after current Labour MP Margaret Hodge announced she would stand down at the next election.

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