Labor is suspending the entire Leicester East branch amid an internal investigation

The Labor Party has suspended its entire Leicester East branch amid an internal investigation.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) is currently investigating the troubled constituency party over concerns about its functioning.

The precise reason for the suspension was not specified.

A Labor Party source said: “The NEC has a duty to protect the integrity of CLPs (Constituency Labor Party), to ensure that they are managed properly, in accordance with party rules and procedures, and that they can operate on full, inclusive and democratic”.

It comes after concerns about Labour’s performance in May’s local elections, when it won just 31 seats, down from 53 in 2019.

The constituency faced further turmoil following the conviction for harassment of incumbent MP Claudia Webbe.

There has been speculation that her predecessor, Keith Vaz, may be considering a comeback, although he has denied any plans to date again.

Mr Vaz resigned after 32 years as MP for the constituency after it emerged he had expressed a desire to buy cocaine for others during a meeting with prostitutes.