The parliamentary candidate for a constituency marred by selection controversy was joined by a shadow minister to lead a workshop for campaigners.

Sam Tarry won Labour’s Ilford South’s parliamentary contest after incumbent MP Mike Gapes left the party.

The selection process was marred with controversy after frontrunner Cllr Jas Athwal, leader of Redbridge Council, was suspended from the party the night before the selection meeting due to an investigation into contested ‘serious allegations’ against him.

At the time, Labour MP for Ilford North, Wes Streeting, described the suspension a ‘politically motivated stich-up’.

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Cllr Jas Athwal was suspended from the Labour Party on the eve of the selection meeting

Tarry overcame Cllr Kam Rai, deputy leader of Redridge Council, who stepped in following Cllr Athwal’s suspension, to be named Labour’s candidate.

On Monday evening, Tarry was joined by Clive Lewis, shadow minister for sustainable economics, when the pair met campaigners at the Drive Methodist Church, Ilford.

Speaking to activists who gathered after an evening of canvassing, the shadow minister said: “We have what will probably be the most radical and progressive manifesto seen in this country since 1945.

“Although the popular 2017 manifesto was a great step, a Swedish delegation that visited the Labour party jokingly said they had been winning on such a manifesto for over 40 years.”

The pair led discussions on a green new deal to transform the economy while combating climate change.

Sam Tarry claimed Labour’s manifesto would reverse “decades of deconstruction of the social fabric of the country, that has allowed for unseen levels of inequality.”

He added: “Labour's proposal will transform this country for decades and rebalance the fundamentals of wealth, power and democracy in favour of the vast majority.

“We have this massive opportunity to build something really special here in Ilford South. The fact that our campaigning session had nearly 70 people turn out this weekend shows people are hungry for change and are prepared to build a genuine movement at the grassroots.”