A CONTROVERSIAL Labour activist has decided against standing as a candidate in the local elections in May.

Colin Monehen was planning to stand as the candidate for Church Langley.

He stood last year, polling 439 votes.

Last year, Mr Monehen had planned to stand as prospective parliamentary candidate for Epping Forest but was removed from the shortlist after the Labour Party had undertaken “due diligence tests”.

This came after an article in the Jewish Chronicle alleged Mr Monehen had defended a notorious antisemitic image showing the image of a parasite on the Statue of Liberty with a Star of David on it.

https://www.yourharlow.com/2019/10/23/harlow-labour-activist-removed-from-epping-forest-parliamentary-candidate-shortlist/

Mr Monehen had always been a forthright activist, making a passionate speech about Palestine at the Labour Party Conference in 2018; attending the appearance of former MP Chris Williamson at the Essex Skipper in 2019 and campaigning hard for Labour candidate Laura McAlpine.

Harlow Labour Party informed YH that “Mr Monehen had withdrawn as a candidate”.

YH has approached Mr Monehen for a comment.

The Harlow Labour Party meet today (Sunday) in order to nominate their candidate for leader of the national party.