Jeremy Corbyn ally urged to sack son as parliamentary aide after drugs conviction
2 min read
A Labour frontbencher and top ally of Jeremy Corbyn is under pressure to sack her son as a parliamentary aide after he was convicted of drugs charges.
Ishmael Osamor quit as a Labour councillor in Haringey, north London, last night after pleading guilty to carrying £2,500-worth of ketamine, ecstasy, cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply at Bestival in Dorset last year.
However, he continues to work as a communications officer for his mother Kate Osamor, the Shadow International Development Secretary.
Sir Alistair Graham, the former chairman of the committee on standards in public life, said the incident brings Parliament “into disrepute” and urged Ms Osamor to fire her son from his job.
"He is clearly not the kind of person who should be working in Parliament,” he told the Times.
"These particular circumstances bring Parliament into disrepute. I would have thought that the MP would move quickly to take her son off the payroll.
"Parliament is not a rehabilitation process, it is a use of taxpayers’ money and that cannot be forgotten. I would have thought that he might want to drop out of the job but the responsibility clearly lies with the MP."
Announcing his decision to quit as a councillor, Mr Osamor said: “I sincerely regret, and apologise for, not informing my family and colleagues of the pending court case and have stood down in recognition of this fact.”
He was sentenced to a two-year community order and 20 days’ rehabilitation for four drugs charges earlier this month at Bournemouth crown court.
The local Labour party has begun an investigation which will probe the process around his selection as a council candidate after he failed to disclose the incident.
It has also been suggested that Kate Osamor nominated him as a Labour candidate despite knowing about his arrest.
Edmonton MP Ms Osamor told the BBC: “Ishmael has admitted what he did was wrong and apologised. He is committed to carrying on his work with vulnerable families and the community to help improve their lives.”
A Commons spokesman said: “Security clearance for those working on the parliamentary estate is regularly reviewed.”
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