Labour should expel Woolas

Labour MP Phil Woolas is currently on trial in response to accusations that he made and published false statements of fact in relation to the personal character or conduct of his Liberal Democrat opponent at the last election.

I would be quite surprised, based on the evidence provided so far, if Woolas were found guilty in strict legal terms. But even if he manages to escape prosecution, the campaign which he chose to run and the leaflets that he put out were vile and disgusting racist filth.

The Labour Party constitution says that when someone's behaviour is "bringing the Labour Party into disrepute through behaviour that is prejudicial or grossly detrimental to the Party", they should be expelled. You only have to look at the leaflets, or at newspaper headlines like "Ex-minister 'tried to stir racial hate'" to see that Woolas has brought the Labour Party into disrepute.

I hope that once the trial is over, the Labour Party sends a clear and principled anti-racist message by withdrawing the whip from Phil Woolas and expelling him from the party.